Sierra Crest obs Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley

Location Name: 
Cold Stream/Deep Creek/Pole Creek/Squaw Creek
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/16/2010 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 14' 42.6588" N, 120° 16' 57.9288" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Ski toured From Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley along the Sierra Crest. Obs made between 7,200' and 8,800' while touring along the rim of Cold Stream Canyon (Donner Summit area) and the rim of Deep Creek and Pole Creek drainages revealed that a solid refreeze had occurred overnight. Cold wind pressed snow remained on N aspects above 8,000' with melt freeze conditions on all E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Areas of wet surface snow began to form on S aspects at 8,800' by 10:30 am. While descending into Squaw Creek, large skier triggered roller balls up to 2 feet in diameter occurred below treeline at 8,000' on a sun exposed E aspect 38 degree slope at 1:30 pm. By 2 pm, 4 to 6 inches of wet surface snow existed on all E-SE-S-SW-W aspects below 8,400' with around 1 inch of wet surface snow on northerly aspects below 8,000'. Below 6,800', full drainage of the snowpack was noted on S aspects where the snowpack was less then 3 feet deep and existed over granite slabs.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: