Soft corn snow on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/01/2013 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 42' 30.672" N, 119° 58' 54.5448" 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: 

2-5 inches of soft corn snow had formed on the S-SE aspects up to 9400 ft. on Red Lake Peak by noon today. This soft wet corn snow rested on top of a supportable melt freeze crust on these aspects. Ski cuts on steep test slopes did not trigger any wet snow instabilities in this area before 1pm.

Above 9400 ft. the snow had not experienced much in the way of melt/freeze cycles. On the SE-E-NE aspects above this elevation a mix of frozen crusts and wind packed snow existed. In a few areas on these upper elevation SE-E aspects hard wind slabs similar to those noted in other parts of the forecast area existed. Ski cuts and ski kicks on test slopes with these wind slabs did not result in any cracking or collapsing.

Photo 1: Frozen crusts and wind packed snow on the upper elevation SE-E-NE aspects. Photo was taken at 9700 ft.

Photo 2: 2-3 inches of soft wet corn snow on a SE aspect at 9280 ft.

Photo 3: 3-5 inches of soft wet corn snow on a SE aspect at 8700 ft.

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