Observations from Echo Peak

Location Name: 
Echo Peak
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/10/2016 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 26.6616" N, 120° 4' 6.2256" W
US



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

A notable lack of either the Jan 5 or Jan 9 surface hoar layers was observed in this area today. Four testpits targeting the Jan 5 layer were dug on Echo Peak in near treeline and below treeline open areas on N to NE aspects between 7,380' and 8,300'. Numerous Compression Tests and Extended Column Tests gave no signs of problematic failures nor revealed any buried surface hoar crystals at any of the failure planes. Test pit locations were 38.857466, -120.058636 | 38.857096, -120.057620 | 38.859066, -120.065016 | 38.857406, -120.068396.

A thin 1F hard crust was present about 2-3cm below the snow surface, directly underneath the Jan 9 new snow on all aspects from the valley floor up to the summit on Echo Peak. The either wet snow or mist event that created this crust appeared to have destroyed the Jan 9 surface hoar. Numerous hand pits from the valley floor to the summit failed to find any remaining surface hoar crystals either above or below this crust.

Melt freeze affected S and SE aspects in this area today, especially below 7,800' where a new 1 cm thick breakable crust had formed on the snow surface by 1:30 pm.

Photo: While no buried surface hoar was found in this area today, the terrain in this photo represents the type of near treeline to below treeline open areas that should be treated with caution in areas where buried surface hoar exists or conditions are unknown.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Static
More detailed information about the weather: 

Winds on the summit at 1:30 pm were dead calm.