Blue Lakes Road cuts - Cracking wind slabs & storm slabs, ECTP results.

Location Name: 
Blue Lakes Road
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/08/2014 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 38' 22.686" N, 119° 55' 3.576" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Snowmobile based avalanche class explored this area today. Slope cuts were peformed on several N-NE-E aspect test slopes in near treeline and below treeline terrain between 7,800' and 8,300'. Cracking occurred in response to slope cuts in both winds slabs and storm slabs. Storm slab failures were also observed in very repeatable ECTP-11 to 19. Failure layer was lower density storm snow about 15 cm above the Jan 30 rain crust and 45 cm below the snow surface.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snow level in this area appeared to hold in the 7,100' to 7,300' range while in the area from 7:30 am to 2pm. Consistent snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were observed above snow level.