Wet, Unconsolidated Snow at Echo/Angora

Location Name: 
Angora Lakes
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 48.9744" N, 120° 4' 20.9028" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pic 1: SE aspect, 8,000 ft. Saturated snow from 0 to 35cm, then another wet layer at 50cm. No distinct sliding surface, and signs of wet instabilites were limited to roller balls.

Pic 2: Several crowns in the area remain angular and well defined, but activity appears to be 36+ hours old. Large cornices observed along ridgeline from Flagpole to Angora.

No evidence of a freeze last night, as all aspects were wet and unconsolidated. Even N aspects were only slightly more consolidated and supportive, and had a thin layer of wet grains at the surface by 9am. On solar aspects later in the morning, I could push snow downhill, but couldn't get it to run any distance or entrain additional snow. Upon my departure mid-day, the thin, high cloud cover was breaking up and solar input and temps were increasing.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: