Observations from Elephant's Back

Location Name: 
Elephant's Back
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 11/14/2017 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 50.3976" N, 119° 59' 0.2616" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

In sheltered areas of Carson Pass between 3-6 inches of new snow were present. This new snow was mostly resting on dirt. Conditions were close to the minimum necessary for skinning. Below 8000 feet snow accumumulation closer to 1 inch on shady aspects and virtually clear of snow on sunny aspects. 

Photo 1: Noticeable soft snow below 4-5 cm wind slab in this location. Below this soft layer of new snow, snow pack consisted of mostly 1 finger decomposing new snow. No facets observed at ground snow interface in this location. Pit dug at lat/long location on map. Snow depth in this leeward location ranged from 50-70cms, but rocks and bare ground were visible nearby. 

Photo 2: I was unable to find significant amounts of new snow on top of old (last year?) snow in this area. The windscoured ice here was impenetrable and would be a slide hazard in steeper terrain. 

Photo 3: Snow cover on Round Top. 

Photo 4: Snow almost nonexistent on lower elevation east face of Waterhouse peak. 

Photo 5: Barely adequate skinning coverage that does show evidence of wind effect. Also a view of minimal coverage on sunny aspects of Red Lake Peak. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: