Pit from Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Back Country

Location Name: 
Unemployment Bowl
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/08/2013 - 14:00


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

 Not a lot to note other than a really nice layer of graupel 55 cm from the surface that is only obvious with a shovel shear. I did several compression tests with no results, however when I would put my shovel behind the column and pull hard this graupel layer would pop out. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

 Very warm day today, observing crystals had to be done fast. The top 10cm of snow on any South thru West aspect around 9000 feet was effected by the sun and becoming very wet. Small pushalanches (Utah term?) were pretty easy to get moving in the afternoon and would entrain the surface snow as it went. No pinwheels were observed however. Winds were non existant which I think is why the surface was so affected.