Observations from Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/11/2015 - 11:50
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 23.268" N, 120° 14' 38.292" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Snowpit dug in the middle of the start zone of one of the most historically active avalanche paths on Silver Peak. The 18 cm thick rain crust is providing significant strength over a poorly developed facet layer in the upper portion of the snowpack on N aspects in this area. The load required to collapse the rain crust is very high. Snowpit tests continue to indicate that despite the presence of a weak layer below the rain crust, it is not problematic at this time.

Cloud cover well below forecast expectations allowed for more snow surface warming than expected. SE aspects between 7,400' and 8,000' held 4 cm of wet surface snow over supportable melt-freeze crust at 12:45 pm. Below 7,400' the shallow wet isothermal snowpack was marginally skier supportable in areas of direct sun exposure as well as in areas of indirect sun exposure adjacent to exposed bushes and boulders.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest