Facets and ECTP's near Lake Aloha

Location Name: 
Keiths Dome
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 12/29/2017 - 14:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 35.0208" N, 120° 6' 38.1852" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

South aspects were almost completely dry with the PCT exposed almost all the way to the saddle above Lake Aloha. North aspects had more snow but numerous obstacles like rocks and stumps and logs were still exposed. Below 8400 ft. even the north aspects did not have much coverage (less than 50cm in many places). The higher elevation northerly aspects of Ralston and Pyramid looked like they had decent coverage, but those faces looked firm and icy from a distance. Quick hand pits showed facet layer (5 to 8 cm thick) above a rain crust on northerly aspects near Keiths Dome. One area had a small soft slab with a thin rain crust above the facets and in this area, I did 2 ECT test and got scores of ECTP 10 and ECTP 9 with the facets acting as the failure layer. 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest