Observations on Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/08/2015 - 13:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 13.8972" N, 119° 55' 25.0896" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

17 to 21 in. of dense recent snow existed above the old snow surfaces in the Tamarack Peak area. Below the old snow surfaces, a layer of softer snow still exists in some areas but not in others. Snowpit tests targeting this layer on N-NE facing slopes between 9200 ft. and the summit of Tamarack indicated that it would be difficult to trigger a fracture in this lower layer, but that if a fracture did start it may be able to travel through the layer. Above these older snow layers observations showed that the new dense snow continues to consolidate. A few small density changes do still remain in the new snow, but tests indicated that fracture propagation along these layers is unlikely. Above 9000 ft. today, about 2-4 inches of new snow accumulated between noon and 3 pm, and some small wind slabs did start to form on the N-NE-E aspects. Ski cuts on wind loaded areas did produce small shooting cracks up to 3 ft in length but nothing more. As temperatures warmed up during the afternoon a slightly denser layer of new snow fell on the snow surface.

Snowpit: A N aspect at 9800 ft. Test results and stratigraphy similar to this pit were observed on a N aspects @ 9600 ft. and 9400 ft. and on NE aspects at 9600 ft. and 9800 ft. 

Photo: A small shooting crack in a small wind slab at 9800 ft. on a NE facing test slope. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Mixed rain and snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Precipitation started around 11am and continued through the afternoon. Snow levels started below 8400 ft. and climbed to 8800 ft. by 3 pm. 2-4 inches of new snow accumulated above 9000 ft. Steady rain below 8800 ft. at 3:30pm.