Ongoing faceting on upper elevation N aspects in Tamarack Peak area.

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 11/14/2016 - 01:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 50.6664" N, 119° 54' 56.5704" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Faceting continues on shaded true N aspects in the Tamarack Peak and Relay Peak areas. Faceting was more pronounced above 9,300', but existed in the 9,000' to 9,300' elevation range as well. These facets sit on top of basal ice that generally negates anchoring of the facet layer. Snowpit tests indicate that the overlying slab is weak/absent and not conducive to propagating fracture in its current state. Changes will occur in the future that will certainly change the slab and weak layer characteristics and subsequent stability.

Photo 1: Proletariat Face with significant melt on E aspects and snow holding on N aspects.

Photo 2: Far east ridge avalanche paths (shaded N aspect), holding snow with some amount of faceting noted in the 9,000' to 9,300' range.

Photo 3: Near surface facets from the snowpit at noted lat/long (shaded N aspect at 9,470').

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest