Observations from Indian Valley

Location Name: 
Indian Valley
Region: 
Ebbetts Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 12/11/2015 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 35' 20.886" N, 119° 52' 39.1584" W
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

New snow was deeper and colder than area snotel reports implied, with less evidence of wind transport and previous rain than expected. New snow/old snow bonds not weak, with moderate and poor quality shovel shears. Yesterday's rain level may have been around 7500ft where a firm crust was observable below new snow, and quickly became unobservable at higher elevations.

Easy to find facets in this area today - every time we stepped off sleds, if we broke through MFcr, we sunk into the facets below. Similarly, sudden direction changes or quick accel or decel and track or skis would dig into facets below.

One test slope whumphed twice while off sled - once when I stepped off and the second time when a rider approached in flats above slope (creek feature).

Minor evidence of instabilities observed, even with several slope cuts: Whumphs, snowpack structure and column tests.

Video: Pretty similar structure observed elsewhere today, with the exception of yesterday's rain crust at 7500ft and below. ECT propagated in the crust sandwich, but repeated taps in attempt to get the basal facets to fail did not produce results.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

2015.12.11 Snowpack structure SE of Blue Lakes

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None