Surface hoar and rapid warming West of Convict Lake

SNOWPACK OBSERVATION Ridgeline of Laurel just West of Convict Lake Convict Creek
Submission Info Sunday, January 15, 2017 - 11:30pm

Contributor

Jess May

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