Snowpit on Mt. Lola

Location Name: 
Mt. Lola
Region: 
Independence Lake Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/10/2011 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 26' 39.1704" N, 120° 21' 51.408" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

A sun crust exists on all aspects below 8000 ft. On the more northerly aspects, this crust varied from thin and breakable to thick and supportable to non-existent in the most shady areas. On the more sun-exposed aspects, this crust would support a snowmobile in most low elevation areas. Above 8000 ft the crust did not exist on the more northerly aspects. On these aspects at the higher elevations, some softer, unconsolidated snow existed on the surface. Above treeline in the more wind-exposed areas a firm dense wind slab existed on the surface in wind-loaded areas. Wind scoured surfaces existed on the windward aspects.

General observations, hand pits, stability tests, and snowmobile cuts on test slopes indicated a mostly stable snowpack. Some of the dense wind slabs did show some signs of potential instabilities; however, these were isolated and irregular at best.

Snowpit above is from a wind-loaded above treeline slope near the summit of Lola (see map for location).

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snow started to fall around 1 pm. It changed to rain at around 7000 ft.