Wet Snow and Facets on Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Far East Ridge of Tamarack
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 11/19/2015 - 10:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 51.498" N, 119° 54' 50.5188" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Soft unconsolidated cold snow still remained on the completely shaded N aspects.slopes that received any amount of sun either had a melt freeze crust on the surface or held wet sticky snow by 11 am. Snowpack depths averaged between 35 and 50 cm on the northerly aspects while other aspects help much less snow. Many of the southerly aspects have completely melted out. Below the surface the snowpack consists of consolidating recent snow resting above older weaker snow (facets). In most areas snowpit tests on these facets did not yield unstable results. Out of six Extended Column Tests and 3 Propagation Saw Tests performed at various locations and elevations on the N-NE aspects of Tamarack Peak, only one of them showed that fractures could still travel through this weak layer. This one ECTP 18 Q2  result occurred at 39.314305, -119.913947 on a N facing aspect @ 9400 ft (the location attached to this observation) and failed on the facet layer in the bottom half of the snowpack. 

Photo: Significant wind scouring on a NE-E aspect from previous NE winds. 

Snowpit: N aspect @ 38.31388, -119.90598 @ 8920 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
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: