Still Fragile Peresistent Weak Layer in the Rose area

Location Name: 
The Saddle - CLOSED AREA - Mt. Rose
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/11/2016 - 15:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 9.192" N, 119° 52' 56.496" W
See map: Google Maps
US


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

Snowpit data collected near the crown of an avalanche that occurred on 12/10 (more information about this avalanche incident here - this pit and video are also attached to the avalanche observation for reference) showed that the new snow represents a great slab layer and that the facet layers near the base of the snowpack that failed during the avalanche remain weak. Tests indicated that human triggering of these layers may have become slightly more difficult than it was yesterday but that it remained a possibility. These tests also showed that if these layers do break the resulting fracture can travel long distances through the weak layer. Facet layers like this one existed on N and NE aspects above 8800 ft. in this area. This snowpit came from a CLOSED area of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe that has not had any control work or skier traffic this season. This data should be representative of the backcountry snowpack. Note: the elevation on the snowpit should read 9240 ft. 

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

Facets and PST's on Slide Mountain

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest