Depth Hoar in Ophir Creek

Location Name: 
Ophir Creek
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 01/17/2014 - 13:10
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 35.3256" N, 119° 54' 5.1912" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

A cold and shallow snowpack on the N-NE aspects in Ophir creek has allowed large, well-developed, weak snow grains known as depth hoar to form at the bottom of the snowpack. In the near treeline area where small wind slabs formed the top layer of the snowpack snowpit data yielded variable results with a few tests indicating that fractures could propagate along the depth hoar layer. However, most tests and all the general observations indicated that while the snowpack has several weak layers in it it can currently support itself and a person on top of it. In below treeline areas the small wind slabs gave way to near surface facets. 

Photo 1: Depth hoar grains in the bottom of the snowpack. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Static