Observations from Porcupine Ridge

Location Name: 
Porcupine Ridge
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/01/2013 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 54' 54.7632" N, 119° 53' 7.7028" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Relatively shallow snowpack in the S Carson Range. Dec 12th facet layer buried less than 100cm deep just below lee ridgelines. Dec 2nd facet layer well developed and uninterrupted at pit location. Additional, deeper facet layer observed here (see pit, 40-41cm).

E winds were stripping some snow from E facing slopes, but not yet creating wind slabs on W aspects. Much of wind transported snow appeared to be undergoing turbulent diffusion rather than depositing back onto snow surface.

Video: First of 2 PSTs. 28/125 End and 30/125 End on Dec 12th facets just above the rain crust.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

There is enough snow to descend all the way to the Carson Valley, although snowpack becomes quite thin at ~6000ft. With 100+ tracks leaving the Heavenly boundary, people are beginning to push farther S along Porcupine Ridge towards Jobs.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Valley fog in Carson Valley began dissipating mid-day.