Wet snow on all aspects on Donner Peak and Mt. Judah

Location Name: 
Donner Peak and Mt. Judah
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 14:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 14.9436" N, 120° 19' 3.4716" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Wet surface snow existed on all aspects up to 8200 ft. in the Donner Peak - Mt. Judah area today. Below 7800 ft. the recent snow rested above a melting melt-freeze crust with loose wet snow below it on all aspects. Boot penetration on northerly aspects averaged just above my boot tops. On the southerly aspects I sank into mid shin at these aspects. Above this elevation 3-6 inches of recent snow existed on all aspects. On the northerly aspects a frozen melt-freeze crust existed below this wet recent snow. On the E-SE-S-SW aspects deep wet snow existed below the recent snow. Ski cuts on steep E facing slopes triggered large roller balls (3ft in diameter), ski width wide wet snow sluffs, and some point releases.

Photo 1: The contrast between a snow covered NE aspect and a melted out SW aspect on the other side of the ridge. This ridge is between 7600 and 8000 ft.

Photo 2: Boot penetration up to mid shin on an E aspect at 7900 ft. at 3 pm

Photo 3: Skier triggered 3ft diameter roller balls that created 2 ft deep gouges in the snowpack on an E aspect at 8200 ft. Coordinates of this ob indicate the location of this photo.

Photo 4: Skier triggered ski width wide wet snow sluff on an E aspect at 8000 ft.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: