Limited wind transport at Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Frog Lake Ridge
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/09/2013 - 16:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 24.144" N, 119° 59' 5.244" 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: 

Much less wind than forecast today, and although new snow remains light and available for transport on windward aspects, no current wind transport was observed today.

Pic: Although from a distance several slopes appeared to be wind loaded from previous winds, wind deposited snow remained unconsolidated and not slab-like. Bonding with previous crust was fair to good. Although ski cuts on steep slopes did show continued loose dry potential, the moving snow arrested within 10m even when slope steepness continued.

Pit: Several crust/facet combos near the surface. Although small column tests showed sudden planar results, no signs of propagation potential observed via large column tests. This coincides well with test results performed earlier in the day on a N aspect, steep test slope at 8200ft, where several CTs showed sudden planar results below upper crust, but a rutschblock failed to show propagation potential (RB6 EB).

The crust nearest the surface remains supportable on sunny aspects, and breakable on shaded aspects. The 2nd deeper rain crust remains quite strong on all aspects and elevations observed today (NW, N, NE, E from 8000 to 9000ft). Facets between these two crusts well distributed across aspects and elevations observed today.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: