Complex Wind Slabs on Elephant's Back

Location Name: 
Elephant's Back
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 51.1932" N, 119° 58' 56.37" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

pic 1: wind flagging on E side of trees at treeline along Frog Lake Ridge. Typical Elephant's Back cornice is developing, with minor wind loading on opposite side.

pic 2: density changes within new snow. HS at Elephant's Back bowl 160cm. Lower density layers were not reactive to tests (note F hard layer @ 100cm down, under 1F wind slab). Several different wind slab layers were reactive to ECT (non standard after intitial ECTP15 Q1 down 15cm - I continued on same column and got several more wind slab layers to propagate Q1)

However, determined ski cuts on steep, wind loaded test slopes failed to produce results.

HS on sheltered slopes 70-100cm. Ski pen limited to 30cm on sheltered slopes, and less on wind loaded.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: