Testpit on Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 01/03/2017 - 13:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 0.1368" N, 120° 21' 47.1528" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Testpit at noted lat/long (ENE aspect, open area below treeline, 7,800') revealed 95 cm of storm snow with some amount of settlement already occurred. Snowpit tests identified easy failures at the base of the storm snow on old near surface facets (old/new snow interface). Well developed facets were noted down around the Dec 15 rain crust. Upon stepping off of skis to dig the pit, a large collapse occurred where the snowpack was felt to drop about 2 cm. This was likely a failure of the near crust facets, about 135 cm below the snow surface.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: