Observations from Catherdral Bowl

Location Name: 
Tallac
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 53' 38.058" N, 120° 5' 29.4036" 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: 

pic 1: minimal previous loose wet activity on steep SE aspects. No signs of wet instabilities today.

pic 2: 5cm ski pen even among heat traps on solar aspects in the early afternoon. A well consolidated pencil hard layer is beneath the soft surface snow.

On shaded aspects at and above treeline, the surface rain crust was easily breakable with 5-10cm of cold unconsolidated snow underneath (small grains with visible angular features). Possibly the crust was never as fully developed here as elsewhere. More likely it has been breaking down via faceting. As on solar aspects, the snow just under the surface layers is well consolidated and showed no signs of instability.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Calm winds below ridgetops. Thin, high cloud cover increased during afternoon.