Snowpack observations near Mt. Lola

Location Name: 
Mt. Lola
Region: 
Independence Lake Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 13:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 26' 6.954" N, 120° 21' 27.9252" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Significant wind-loading today. Wind slabs of 1-2 ft near treeline. Large tender cornices above these wind-loaded slopes. Refridgerator sized blocks would break off with one to two kicks. No slab failure on the slopes below. Upside down snowpack in the new snow. 5 inches of a hard, heavy wind slab sitting on top of 7-10 inches of softer lighter snow from earlier in the storm. All of this sits on top of an old surface crust. Bonding between the new snow and the old crusts is good with moderate to hard force required to break the snow at this lainterface. Within the new snow several breaks occured with only a small amount of force applied.

Oct. 19th facet layer still exists in this area. Fracture propagation along this layer remains possible. Luckily the strong snow above it prevents forces applied at the surface from reaching this layer. Will continue to moniter this latey beacuse a very large trigger (like several feet of snow or an avalanche coming down the slope) could be enough to reactivate it.

Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

PST 65/135 END on Oct 19th facet layer

Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Rain up to 6800'.