Snowpack observations from Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 14:14
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 5.3904" N, 119° 55' 2.4924" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Storm had not really hit the Mt. Rose area yet. Toured over Fireplug down to 8100' then up Galena Creek and back over to the Prolateriate. The winds were transporting some snow near ridgelines. Only small isolated wind slabs had formed in the areas that I saw, and these only extended a few ft. downslope. Some cracking did occur on these small wind slabs. Only 2-4 inches of new snow on the surface in the Mt. Rose area. This snow seems to be bonding well to old snow surfaces. On the E-SE aspects there is a crust under the new snow on the N-NE aspects there is soft unconsolidated snow under the new snow. Hand pits, and pole probes indicated a continuous hardening of the snowpack down to 1.2 m. Hand pits consistent with the pit above and indicate that the Feb 19th interface in this area has bonded well to the snow above it on N-NE aspects above 8200'.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

 

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: 

Storm does not seem to arrived in the Mt. Rose area yet. Clouds were thin and snow showers light. Some patches of sun did poke through every now and then.