Observations from Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/01/2015 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 24.1104" N, 120° 14' 36.348" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Storm snow amounts of 50 cm existed in this area at 8,000'. A noticeable lack of settlement had occurred with no settlement cones around trees and deep ski pen on northerly aspects. Areas of more significant sun exposure were settling rapidly. Hand pits on northerly aspects between 7,400' and 8,000' revealed that the recent storm snow was decently bonded to the rain crust at the old/new snow interface. No buried near surface facets were observed in this area up to the high point of travel at 8,000'. A test pit at the noted lat/long (N aspect, 8,000', 30 deg slope) yielded ECTN results, limited to within the storm snow (photo). A PST performed in poorly developed near crust facets just below the 5 cm thick K hard rain crust at the old/new snow interface scored PST 55/100 end @ 132 cm. Wind slabs up to 2 feet thick were observed along to top of the E ridge, extending only a short distance downslope onto N-NE aspects. Minor skier triggered cracking was noted on the ridge top, not exceeding 1 foot in length.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
More detailed information about the weather: 

Strong incoming solar radiation observed on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects during periods of breaks in the cloud cover.