Widespread faceting above Forestdale Road

Location Name: 
Forestdale Road
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 02/26/2012 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 28.9392" N, 119° 58' 12.8928" 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: 

pit: consistent with other observations in area, including other pits. Widespread faceting of surface snow, and crust/facet layers beneath. Still no slab development, and no signs of instability.

pic: graupel layer remains intact below 2/14 snow. Not observed in pit, but observed elsewhere. Not reactive to RB, nor to informal tests.

video: RB6 EB on facets between crusts down 25cm. From provided lat/long (not same as pit location). 32 degree slope, 15 degree aspect, 8400ft. Failure layer consistent with 60cm layer identified in pit. Several other formal and informal observations at this location showed similar results.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: