Snowpack Observations from Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/13/2014 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 2.2548" N, 119° 58' 35.6988" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

As in other areas around the forecast region, a mix of scoured surfaces and firm crusts existed on most exposed near and above treeline N-NE-E aspects. A few small hard wind slabs also existed on these aspects. Tests did not reveal signs of instability on the isolated areas of wind slabs unless the slope was undercut. Some softer cold snow up to 3 inches deep still remains on some of the more sheltered and shaded N aspects.

Minor melting did start to occur on the SE-S-SW aspects up to 9500 ft. by noon. At that time about 1 inch of soft melt-freeze snow existed above a very supportable thick frozen crust. Up to 2 inches of soft melt freeze snow existed on the lower elevation sun-exposed southerly aspects by 1 pm. E aspects remained frozen as of 12:30 pm. No signs of wet snow instabilities were observed on any aspects as of 1 pm.

Photos 1: Crusts exposed by wind scouring on a NE aspect at 8800 ft.

Photo 2: Wind scoured surface textures at 9200 ft on a NE aspect.

Photo 3: Still frozen E aspect at 9000 ft.

Photo 4: 1 inch of soft melt freeze snow on a SE aspect at 9400 ft. at 12:30 pm.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: