Warm, humid day at Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 11.7804" N, 119° 58' 31.3716" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Widespread natural loose wet activity, including one human triggered in an E aspect terrain trap w/ start zone at about 9200ft, likely at around 9am (I observed tracks and debris at 10am, but low clouds prevented good pictures). About 50 meters wide, 100 meters long. Although debris ran into terrain trap, not enough accumulated to bury a person. All steep surrounding terrain features had loose wet activity, even on due N aspects, and though several ran wide and long, none appeared deep enough to bury a person, and none initiated larger, deeper slides. Similar activity observed from the road along Flagpole/Echo/Tallac and along the ridge from Heavenly to Jobs, overlooking the Carson Valley.

Pit: 3/15 rain layer is distinctly frozen, but no weaknesses associated with this layer observed. Faceted layer probed at 180cm from surface.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Rain
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Low cloud cover with BKN skies allowed for solar input without much loss. Low cloud cover/fog/very light rain observed throughout day, with Very Wet surface conditions observed even on N aspects up to my high point of 9200ft. Temps well above freezing from early morning onward.