Surface hoar and rapid warming West of Convict Lake

SNOWPACK OBSERVATION
Ridgeline of Laurel just West of Convict Lake
Submission Info
Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 11:30pm
Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
37° 35' 56.1012" N, 118° 51' 42.066" W
See map: Google Maps
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Skinned up the east face from the lake then around to NE facing chute.  Hand shear test around 8300 ft NE aspect, 38 degree slope popped loose on isolation, it was energetic but not totally planar.  25 cm fist hard new snow on top of 10 cm 4F on top of 5 cm 1F+ rain crust on top of 4F.  The failure was under the 1F+ layer.  Total snow depth was 120 cm.  Observed smaller 2-5 mm surface hoar bottom to top of route (turned around at about 8600 ft) though it was starting to melt on sunnier aspects.  Observed three small point releases from under rocks on E and NE aspects and evidence of others and small rollerballs from yesterday.  There was limited snow transport downslope and evidence of loading in the center of the gully.

Skiing was quite good but snow was just starting to change with the warmth.

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
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