Wet snow all aspects - Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/14/2015 - 09:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 11.208" N, 119° 54' 9.1152" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Cloud cover and above freezing air temperatures overnight allowed for only a minimal, weak overnight snow surface refreeze in this area. Boot pen of 20 cm (8 inches) into wet snow was observed in non-compacted areas at the trailhead at 8,600' at 9:45 am. Previously compacted areas of traditional skin track placement and heavily trafficked slopes such as Hourglass and Proletariat were much more supportable than the vast majority of lesser trafficked surrounding areas. Ski cuts on the Far East Ridge of Tamarack Peak (N aspect, 9,100') produced small amounts of roller balls and pinwheels that reached up to 45 cm (18 inches) in diameter. An upper snowpack structure of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) of surface wet snow over old snow not yet affected by melt-freeze was noted in many areas on northerly aspects, including the Far East Ridge.

Photo 1: Trailhead wet snow boot pen of 20 cm at 8,600, 9:45 am.

Photo 2: Minor amounts of roller balls and pin wheels from ski cut on N aspect at 9,100'.

Photo 3: One of the larger pin wheels ~45 cm in diameter.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thick mid level cloud cover existed over the northern portion of the forecast area, with thin high level cloud cover visible over the southern portion of the forecast area.