Observations from Emerald Bay Chutes

Location Name: 
Jake's Peak
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 01/27/2012 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 57' 43.9632" N, 120° 7' 2.2872" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

pic 1: Drainage runnels on SE and S aspects of Jake's Peak. Surface conditions varied: a hard freeze existed on open slopes steep enough to receive strong solar radiation the past few days. Less steep slopes and slopes protected by tree cover were soft, with 20cm ski pen by 10am.  Several heat traps (rocks, bushes) are still exposed in this area, and widespread pinwheels and rollerballs from previous warming cover most of the snow surface here. Moderate E winds kept exposed slopes cool into mid day, and no warm instabilities were observed on S/SE exposures.

pic 2: Small natural loose wet activity over Emerald Bay Rd. N aspect, low elevation slope. E wind not observed here.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light dusting on trees above 8800ft on several surrounding peaks was not observed to melt by our departure at 1pm.