Snowpack Observations from Near Grouse Rocks

Location Name: 
Grouse Rocks
Region: 
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/06/2014 - 11:05
Location Map: 
United States
39° 8' 6.018" N, 120° 14' 30.4116" 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: 

4-8 cm (1.5-3 in) of new snow had accumulated prior to 1:30 pm between 7200ft (4cm) and 8400 ft (8cm). Most of this snow accumulated before 11am. Snow fall tapered off significantly after 11am. The new snow was dense and wet on top of the old soft surface snow. Ski cuts on test slopes, observations, and snowpit tests indicated that this new snow had not bonded well to the snow below it yet. The data also indicated that the new snow did not add enough of a load to change the current snowpack stability. A thick strong rain crust still exists about 30cm (12in) down in the snowpack. Below this strong refrozen layer moist old snow still remains.  I was not able to identify a buried surface hoar layer with snowpit data including shovel tilt tests and ECT's, several hand pit observations, and general searching.

Along the upper ridgeline, winds remained light were not strong enough to transport snow. Some small wind slabs did exist along the ridgeline and ski cuts caused some of these small wind slabs to fail. They only extended a few meters downslope and quickly decreased in depth as the distance from the ridgeline increased. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Light snowfall occurred throughout the day with the heaviest periods of snow happening prior to 11am. Snow fall tapered off significantly in the afternoon. Winds were calm everywhere but the summit ridgeline. along this ridgeline they were light.