Hard slabs/Scouring on Elephants Back

Location Name: 
Elephants Back
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 12/09/2017 - 11:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 58.8144" N, 119° 58' 55.7832" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

We skied Elephants Back NE Bowl and didn't find any evidence of hard slabs or cracking. Snow varied between ice crust and soft wind buff allowing for some decent turns. East winds scoured the slope and some rocks and vegetation that were previosly buried were now exposed in the bowl. NW/W aspects were clearly wind loaded with the transported snow. On our skin out we dug a pit by some of the lower NE gullies and found some hard slabs around 8 inches thick sitting on a loose facet layer (see photos). Jumping on test slopes with great force caused shooting cracks in this area. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: