Observations from Incline Lake Peak

New snow amounts during the morning hours of 2 to 3 cm (1 to 1.5 in) in wind protected areas. Gale force NE wind over ridgetops was transporting most snow fairly far down slope on S-SW aspects in this area creating mostly shallow pockets of wind load of 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in). In very isolated areas, small pillows of deeper wind load up to 15 cm (6 in) were observed. In these isolated areas of deeper wind load, new snow was poorly bonded to the melt-freeze crust at the old/new snow interface. Very short skier triggered cracking up to 45 cm (1.5 ft) was observed in some of these deeper wind pillows. No wind slabs large enough to present a hazard to backcountry travelers were observed.

Snowpit data collected at noted lat/long (N aspect, 9,360') in the vicinity of the snowpit from Feb 11 revealed near surface facets similar to those observed yesterday above Crater Lake (Carson Pass area). Snowpit tests yielded no evidence of instability. Near surface facets might become a potential weak layer concern if/when significant future new snow loading occurs.

Photo 1: Deepest pocket of wind load found in the area (SW aspect, ~9,400') with wind load of 15 cm poorly bonded to melt-freeze crust at old/new interface.

Photo 2: Very short skier triggered cracking in wind pillow in the vicinity of photo 1.