Superficial freeze on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/17/2011 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 52.1316" N, 119° 58' 51.8268" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

pic 1: NE ridge of Red Lake Peak frozen enough for dangerous skinning beginning at 9000ft. Boot pen varied from 1cm to boot high to my high point at 9800ft, and to ground near bushes and rocks.

pic 2: From 9800ft to 9200ft, SE aspect was supportable with free water only at the surface. By 9200ft, free water and melt forms to 20cm deep, with very large roller ball activity. Roller balls did entrain more snow, but came to rest on their own in conservative terrain.

SE through NE aspects appear to have frozen overnight due to radiation loss and not ambient temps up to ~9000ft. Less free water and firmer conditions even in the trees lead me to believe that ambient temps dropped below freezing above ~9000ft. N aspect remained in frozen state into afternoon from Crater Lake to Red Lake Peak.

Also note avalanche ob here.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: