Snowpit from Silver Peak

Location Name: 
NE slope, Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/25/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 20.4888" N, 120° 14' 44.412" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Public
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

We considered skiing an open NE facing 25 degree slope.  Snow was unconsolidated but wind affected, and had not yet been warmed significantly by the sun.  A hand pit resulted in an easy failure within the new snow layer.  A 30x30cm column failed 15cm down as soon as it was isolated (score of 0) with a Q1 shear.  Progressed to an ECT (30x90cm) column, which failed 15cm down with ETCP05, Q1 shear.  Selected a route through the trees to mitigate risk, and skied sun-exposed open slopes below that did not exhibit stability problems.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Wind loading from storm over previous night.  Wind very light out of southwest with more solar impact than expected.  Temperature was slightly above freezing.

File attachments: 
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