Echo Peak Observations

Location Name: 
Echo Peak
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/17/2017 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 20.5128" N, 120° 4' 15.294" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Sunny and clear morning on Echo Peak. A mild refreeze was observed top to bottom. While ski pole penetration increased dramatically throughout the morning, ski penetration remained minimal up to departure at 10:00am. 

Photo 1: Just after 8:00am, at 6800 feet, open east facing slopes had a solid surface freeze.

Photo 2: Around 9:00am, at 8400 feet on north facing partially open slopes had slick but shallow surface freeze with soft snow below.

Photo 3: Huge crevasse where the east facing slope meets the flat ridge just south of the summit. Parts of this crack were deeper than 10 feet. 

Photo 4: Around 9:30am, on east facing slopes at 8600 feet snow was already softening to a depth of about 20 cms. 

Photo 5: Around 10:00am, at 6800 feet open east facing slopes were softening significantly. 

Photo 6: Large amounts of running water at 8:00am in open areas.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: