Observations from Powderhouse Peak

Location Name: 
Powderhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 03/14/2016 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 47' 0.8952" N, 119° 58' 35.85" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Highly wind affected snow pack on Luther Pass today. Snow skied a bit upside down and slabby. In some more wind affected areas, instead of a powder spray when a turn was made, pieces of slab were moved and were cohesive enough to retain their shape. Wind was swirling but mostly coming out of the northwest. Wind created sastrugi was observed below 8000 on the peak, in an small opening in the otherwise treed slope. Signs of wind affect were observed all the way to the summit. North facing above treeline test slopes that are often wind loaded were instead wind scoured. 

Settlement cracks were observed around trees but it appeared only a few millimeters of settlement had occured. 

Photo 1: Sastrugi near the base of Powderhouse Peak. It grows into the wind and is facing north to northwest in this photo. 

Photo 2: Settlement crack around a tree.

Photo 3: Wind affected snow near the summit. Wind was moving snow towards the southeast in this photo.

Photo 4: Small snow crack in front of a snowboard. This occurred midslope in a heavily treed location. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: