Spring like corn conditions and ice crusts on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/29/2012 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 31.5756" N, 119° 58' 55.5816" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Frozen ice crusts exists on all aspects and at all elevations on Red Lake Peak early this morning. As the sun warmed up the southerly aspects this melt-freeze crust softened on the SE-S-SW aspects. Above 8400 ft only the top one to two inches of the crust softened into corn snow by 11:30 am. A firm frozen supportable melt-freeze layer existed under this softer wet snow. Below 8400 ft on these aspects more melting occurred and the snowpack became soft and punchy in some areas by noon.

Photo 1: Some roller ball activity on an ESE aspect at 9600 ft from previous days.

On all the other aspects (E-NE-N-NW-W), the snow surface remained frozen enough to support a skier's weight in most places. A person could easily break through this ice crust by stepping off of his/her skis. Below the ice crust strong well bonded snow existed on all aspects.

Photo 2: Icy slopes on N-NE aspects at about 9600 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin, high clouds becoming slightly more widespread by this afternoon.