Observations from Ebbetts Pass

Location Name: 
Ebbetts Pass
Region: 
Ebbetts Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/27/2015 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 32' 40.2" N, 119° 48' 43.2864" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Snowpit and pic 1: Consistent with other obs around Folger Peak and Ebbetts Pass proper. The 12/24 rain crust is not very evident in this area, and may not have been as firm as observed elsewhere. The crust is only 1f hard and may have been caused by wet snowfall but not rain - note that digging obs were limited to 8000ft and above. Below 8000ft we stuck to the road. No signs of instability at this layer, and no faceting observed today, though temperature profile near this crust does show potential for faceting. I couldn't find the 12/13 layer in several quick pits today, dug between 100cm and 150cm.

Pic 2: Area creeks are showing impressive signs of settlement. 

Pic 3: Complex previous wind distribution. Winds had shifted back to SW and some light wind transport was observed. No signs of wind slab instability observed today on several test slopes in near treeline terrain. We generally avoided riding above treeline due to inconsistent surface conditions (12/24 crust at the surface is still only 1f hard but not great for riding), though the few wind loaded test slopes we rode above treeline also did not show signs of wind slab instabiliy.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Ebbetts Pass is rideable from the Carson River, though snow on the road may not last long.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Cloud cover increased to overcast upon our late afternoon departure, with dark clouds observed to our W.