Boulders and facets on Rubicon Peak

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 11/15/2016 - 12:20
Location Map: 
United States
38° 59' 23.4168" N, 120° 8' 1.4316" W
See map: Google Maps
US



Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

On N aspects below 8,200' to 8,300' bare ground is widespread on Rubicon Peak. Continuous snowcover begins around 8,500' on N aspects and the snowpack depth reaches just over 1 foot in most areas. Above 8,500' the snowpack structure is similar to other shaded upper elevation true N aspects around the forecast area with faceting snow on top of ice observed. In this area there was no notable slab on top of the weak facets. This particular terrain holds numerous rocks and boulders which makes the snowcover more pocketed and less continuous than in other terrain around the forecast area of similar aspect and elevation.

Photo 1: Snowcover around 1 foot deep with numerous boulders, N aspect around 8,900'.

Photo 2: Snowpit and depth of snow just over 1 foot.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest