Observations from Tallac

Location Name: 
Tallac
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 04/14/2012 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 54' 50.4" N, 120° 6' 3.6" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Mitt pits and hand shears along skin track showed density inversion just above old MFcr still intact, with moderate hand shears. Cutting above skin track produced no results. 20cm of recent storm snow on top of MFcr up to 8000ft, 30+ from 8000ft to 9100ft and 60cm just below ridgelines. Ski cuts along wind loaded convex roll just below ridgeline produced no results. NE winds just beginning to transport 5-10cm of very light snow from NE aspects.

Pit: Moderate PC ECTN results near surface, but consistent Hard SP and RP ECTP results on density change just above old MFcr. 10m adjacent to pit, CT failed on same density inversion with SP character.

Cool temps, OBS sky, and NE winds prevented significant settlement of storm snow above 8500ft. Few and minor settlement cones observed above 8500ft.

Below 8500ft, storm snow entering moist phase, but mitt pits still showed density inversion just above old crust.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

OBS sky above 8500ft until early afternoon, when sky became BKN to SCT.