Surface crusts and near crust facets near Polaris Point

Location Name: 
Polaris Point
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 02/07/2013 - 11:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 8' 4.848" N, 120° 12' 14.328" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

A mix of crusts and weak snow exists on the snow surface in this area up to 7700 ft. The rain crust is not as strong in this area as in other parts of the forecast area. In this area on the N-NE aspects the rain crust was thin and breakable in most places. Below this rain crust another layer of soft weak snow resides. This combination of crusts and weak snow (facets) could become an issue if a slab layer forms on top of it. Below the surface crusts and facets, data revealed a strong snowpack. Tests on the old December weak layers indicated that if these layers were to break fractures would not travel very far in these old weak layers. The data also indicated that it would be very difficult to start a fracture in these deeper weak layers.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
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: 

Snow showers started in this area around 11 am. These showers came in bursts and snow had only just begun to accumulate by mid afternoon.