Consolidated Snow and Inconsistent Weak Layers on Tamarack

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 12/05/2014 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 8.112" N, 119° 55' 17.4396" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

50 to 80 cm of snow exists in the Tamarack Peak area above 8600 ft. Observations and tests indicate that the recent storm snow continues to settle and consolidate. Tests on wind slabs did not reveal any signs of instability nor did general observations or ski cuts on any test slopes in this area. The only signs of instability came in the form of unstable snowpit test results on N-NE aspects above 9500 on slopes where the Dec. 2nd facet layers existed. This data was inconsistent and in some cases tests right next to each other gave exactly opposite results (see the two videos). 

Video 1: An ECT that indicates fractures can propagate along the Dec. 2nd facets

Video 2: An ECT that indicates fracture propagation is unlikely along the Dec. 2nd facets

Both videos were taken from on a NNE facing slope at 9810 ft. and the tests were performed adjacent to each other. .

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

ECTP on Tamarack

ECTN on Tamarack Peak

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static