Upside Down Snowpack in Deep Creek

Location Name: 
Deep Creek
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/22/2017 - 14:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 14' 21.8148" N, 120° 15' 27.7956" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

4 to 7 inches of dense heavy snow had fallen during last night and early this morning. This layer of dense heavy snow rested on top of lighter colder snow and did not bond well to it. Handpits, snowpit observations, and snowpit tests (video) on a variety of SE-E-NE-N-NW aspects at elevations between 6200 ft. and 8400 ft. found this layer to be widespread and tests showed that in some places enough of a slab existed for fractures to propagate along this layer. Ski kicks on test slopes triggered small shooting cracks that failed on the density change between the heavy layer and the lighter layer below it. 2 small storm slab avalanches that looked to have failed on this interface also were observed in the area, but poor visibility and conditions prevented closer investigation and photos. In wind affected areas along the ridgeline between 8200 and 8400 ft, large stiff cornices existed above firm wind slabs. Repeated ski kicks could break large cornice pieces off, but when those pieces impacted the wind loaded slopes below them they did not trigger wind slab avalanches. One ski kick on one wind loaded test slope did cause cracking in a small wind slab. 

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

ECTP on Storm Slab instability in Deep Creek

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snowfall was limited before 2pm and several breaks in the weather occurred during which patches of blue sky appeared. Snowfall totals till 2 pm only totaled about 2-3 inches. Snowfall started to increase around 2pm and really picked up by 4:30 pm when much more significant accumulations started to occur. Wind speeds along the ridgeline remained moderate till at least 2 pm. These wind were still transporting snow for much of the day.