Observations from Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 04/03/2014 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 13.368" N, 119° 54' 46.764" W
See map: Google Maps
US



Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Just over 1' of settled storm snow from the last week of storms in the Mt. Rose area.  Light SW winds, cold temps with partly cloudy conditions kept things cool above 9000'.  Good unconsolidated snow existed on most aspects throughout the day, E and SE aspects got some sun affect and became a little heavier by the afternoon hours but no signs of wet snow instabilities up to 2pm.  Travel on northernly aspects was good and fast all day with ski pen of 15-20cm in unconsolidated snow.

The recent settled storm snow sits on top of the melt freeze crust/facet combo on northerly aspects in this area-the potential persistent weak layer talked about in the forecast.  This layer is very easy to identify just over 1' deep with the melt freeze crust.  Targeting this layer at 9300' on a NE aspect, 35 degree slope, (see video) I had inconclusive results with many stability tests.  1 CTN, 1 CT-M Q1 sheer with sudden planar results, 1 ECTN-18, 1 ECTP-28, and 1 PST 75/100 END all on the facet/melt freeze crust combo.  No signs of any avalanche instabilities today and no evidence of any avalanche activity throughout the recent storm system. 

Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

TamarackPeak2014 4 3 002

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest