Snow conditions on Powderhouse Peak

Location Name: 
Powderhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/05/2011 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 47' 0.942" N, 119° 58' 35.6664" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

In most areas handpits, ski cuts, and general observations showed mostly stable snow that has settled several inches since the last storm. Greater settlement has occurred in the below treeline areas. Near and above treeline most observations still pointed to stable conditions except for one section of a steep N-NE facing, wind-loaded test slope near the top of Powderhouse Peak. On this test slope, a small (6 ft by 3 ft), isolated wind slab remained. One small section of the wind slab cracked when I ski cut the slope producing shooting cracks about 2 ft long. The rest of the slope remained in one piece and other nearby similar test slopes did not react to ski cuts or refrigerator sized cornices being dropped on them. Below 7800 ft the snow became wet and sticky anywhere that the sun had hit even on the NE aspects.

Pit: Wind slab on top of layer of lower density snow on a NE facing wind loaded test slope.

Photo 1: Shooting cracks on that same test slope.

Photo 2: Settlement in below treeline areas.

Photo 3: Roller ball on a patch of sunny E facing terrain at about 7800 ft.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Medium thickness cirrus clouds over the region today. the sun would break though the clouds regularly, and when it did whatever snow it touched warmed up quickly.