Snowpit from Elephant's Back

Location Name: 
Elephant's Back
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/07/2010 - 09:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 40' 52.572" N, 119° 59' 0.708" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pic 1: very supportable wind slab, with ~1cm ski pen in several areas. I wasn't a big enough trigger to produce results on wind loaded test slopes, even though there were two distinct weak layers similar to those in pit. No large cornices available to drop.

Pic 2: 1F hardness evident in column after Compression Test. Pictured stratigraphy consistent with pit data.

Note that neither of the 2 observed weak layers of rimed DFs held graupel.

I was generally impressed with the lack of propagation seen in pit work and informal observations.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Moderate SW winds with steady saltation along snow surface. No blowing snow seen on distant ridges.

By late morning, temps were noticeably rising, solar aspects were getting moist and wind slabs were softening