Negro Canyon

Location Name: 
Negro Canyon
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/26/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 48.8256" N, 120° 17' 44.5236" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Guide at Tahoe Mountain School
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Conditions made for surprisingly good skiing today in Negro Canyon. 2-4 cm of wet snow existed on top of a suportable crust on E-S aspects between 6600' and 7600'. On north aspects above 7400' up to 70 cm of previous storm snow existed above the old melt freeze crust in wind loaded areas. There was thin .5 cm sun/ melt freeze crust that likely formed duing yesterday's warm temperatures. Wind slabs in most shaded apsects ranged from 10 to 20 cm thick. Hand pits revealed wind slab had bonded well to older snow and ski cuts on test slopes revealed minor instabilities. 

Photo 1 Deep snow in North facing wind loaded spots.

Photo 2 Old cornice fall on North aspect

Photo 3 Cross loaded gullies, wind loaded just below cornice on NE aspect

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour