E Ridge Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Above Highway Chutes
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/17/2016 - 14:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 48.0564" N, 119° 54' 9.1152" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Educator at Sierra Nevada College
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Searching for evidence of surface hoar layers- none found at this location. 145cm layer has some facets on visible decmoposing precip particles. 

Ridgetops had small cornices forming rapidly, small wind slabs along the ridge too. Test slopes showed some reactivity to skier weight- loading was ongoing and likely slabs were becoming larger.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
South
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Ridgetop winds extreme. Blowing snow loading downslope and sublimating.