Observations from Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/13/2014 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 11.82" N, 119° 54' 59.004" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Mist and fog today on Tamarack Peak all the way to the summit at 9,900'. The vast majority of the time the precip fell as mist, but occational light snowfall was noted above 9,100'. Wet snow existed at the snow surface with the top 3cm wet at 8,600' and 1 cm of wet surface snow above 9,000'.

Wind slabs at treeline were dense and provided no obvious signs of instability in response to slope cuts.

Snowpit dug below treeline to examine basal facets revealed rounding of large grain facets and old depth hoar in the lower 50 cm of the snowpack on a NE aspect at 9,400'. Snowpit tests indicated that triggering collapse of this weak layer is very difficult and that once collapsed, significant propagation is unlikely. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Mixed rain and snow
Air temperature trend: 
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Air temp at 9,400' was 0 C at 11am.