Snowpit from Relay Peak

Location Name: 
Relay Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 11/22/2015 - 10:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 52.344" N, 119° 56' 6.7092" 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: 

As expected, snow surface conditions varied dramatically between areas of sun and shade in this region. Bare ground or less than 30 cm of melt-freeze snow exists on most sun exposed slopes. A deeper, colder snowpack 30 to 50 cm deep with unconsolidated surface snow exists on NE wind protected N-NE aspects. NE wind exposed areas are heavily scoured.

Snowpit data was collected on the lower angle edge of a mostly 32-35 degree N aspect slope with a history of avalanche activity triggered by persons traveling the creek bed below (terrain trap) (photo 1). In this area, a previously faceted snowpack was observed to have undergone some rounding. Most of the layers remain poorly consolidated and somewhat loose grained (photo 2). No evidence of instability was observed. The existing snowpack appears to be in decent but not ideal condition to handle new snow loading.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest