Reactive Facets (PWL) on Tamarack Peak Area

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/22/2013 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 51.156" N, 119° 54' 56.484" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Snow surface conditions are transitioning; south aspects have a melt freeze crust forming, east aspects are highly variable with a mixed bag of breakable crusts, soft snow, and crusts, sheltered north aspects still have 4'' of soft cold snow.   I observed consistent results on a facet layer buried down 1-1.5' from the surface below a prominate melf freeze crust.  This facet layer  formed weeks ago during a cold and clear weather pattern and was thought to be gaining strength but showed consistent sudden collapse failure and that propagation could be possible on this layer.  There are 2 different melt freeze crusts that are providing some strength and bridging over the weak faceted layer.  These crusts were ski supportive with the upper m/f crust not being boot supportive.  In open northern slopes these crusts were larger and stronger where in protected steep north aspects the crusts were the weakest.  There was no informal observations today that showed this layer to be reactive at this time.

Cool NE flow today kept wet snow instabilities very limited in this area.

 

Video#1:  ECTP-16, north aspect, 9500', 28 degree slope, at noted coordinates.  Location just east of Prolitariate Bowl off East Ridge.

Video#2:  ECTP-12, 9268', north aspect, 32 degree slope, N 39.32006, W 119.91392.  Located in the Hourglass drainage.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

TamarackPeak2013-3-22 003

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light NE winds throughout the morning, at 12pm NE winds increased to moderate.  Evidence of previous stronger NE winds with some scouring on the upper exposed N-E aspects. Very light snow transport today.