observations from Elephant's Back and Round Top

Location Name: 
Elephant's Back and Round Top
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 11/19/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 50.3472" N, 119° 58' 59.412" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

No evidence of avalanche activity in the area. Elephant's Back graupel layer still producing SP results, but only 10-15cm of snow on top of it. Both the graupel and snow on top of it appears to be in early stages of faceting.

Picture: Wind redistributed snow and rain crust at Round Top. Loose surface snow in this area was observed to be in early stages of faceting.

Snow profile (from NE aspect of Round Top at 9200ft): Faceting both above and below the rain crust, but slab was observed to be both thin and poorly connected - see picture. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin overcast sky.