Mt. Rose Observations

Location Name: 
East Ridge Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/27/2011 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 57.8592" N, 119° 55' 4.4112" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Up to 90cm of storm snow in wind loaded locations in the Mt. Rose area.  Settlement cones forming around trees.  The lower new storm snow has settled with the density change from the warm up during the storm snow barely noticable.  Several ECT's performed in wind loaded terrain with no propagation results.  PST's also showing that propagation not likely on the old density change within the storm snow.  Dropped several cornices and ski cut some slopes with no results.  All formal and informal tests pointing towards bonds getting stronger within our recent storm snow and a stable upper snowpack.

Winds began to shift towards the NW-W in the early afternoon.  By mid afternoon W winds were moderate to strong moving snow on the ridges and peaks.  Upper elevation solar aspects did not seem to warm in the mid day with the cold temps in the morning and the increasing NW-W winds in the afternoon.  Did not observe below 8500' solar aspects.

Photo #1:  Dropped several large cornices off the ridge onto N aspects that were heavily wind loaded during the last storm system.  No slab propagation on slopes below, cornice blocks just entrained the snow below and downslope.

Photo#2:  Small wind slab on Prolitariate Bowl on a covex rollover.  There were several crown lines visible in the Mt. Rose area today-most thought to have occured during the bulk of the storm snow event, Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday morning.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Clear sunny day today with light NE winds in the morning hours.  By midday, the winds were shifting around towards the NW-W and by mid afternoon W winds were gusting moderate to strong in speed moving snow on the ridges.