Isothermal snow pack Mt Judah, deep slab failure, but very stubborn

Location Name: 
Judah Ridge just below reflector towers near treeline
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 11/30/2017 - 13:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 21.6" N, 120° 19' 1.2" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Near surface facets from shadiy aspect and cold clear nights,, transform rapidly to clustered rounds the rest of the way down.  Extended column did not fail after 30 taps, but when I tugged on it with the shovel, it fractured reluctantly, but cleanly at 25 cm above the ground. when I touched the fractured top half, it split again at 85 cm.  These are layers to watch as the season progresses.  Also, these surface facets may get buried with nest snow cylce this weekend. Watch for them on a slope near you.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snowpack was very thin and almost unskiable below 7200 feet and then rapidly thickended. Shaded slopes retained wonderful faceted snow above that on the surface on top of a very supportable and thick base. Ridges were windblown and very firm, wind slab evident on leeward slopes below ridges. Flat faced cornices growing all along Judah ridge.  No evidence of natural slides.