Ridge SE of Monument Peak- Ski Obs & Basic Snowpit

Location Name: 
3rd drainage north of "Peak 9614", S of Monument Peak
Region: 
Outside of the Forecast Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 16:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 54' 14.2524" N, 119° 52' 55.1892" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Skinned out to the ridge SE of Monument Peak and skied the 3rd drainage N of "Peak 9614'". No recent instabilities noted on skin up or ski down, but expansive and deep (20'-30' deep) old debris field in runout zone. Wind affected and consolidated powder at top of drainage (9450'elevation) and consolidated powder throughout ski down to sun crusted snow in debris field around 6000' elevation. Chunks of debris or cornice throughout decent and old debris piled on uphill side of trees. 

Snow pit dug at approximately 9400' on a direct N facing, 28 degree angle. Ground strike at 187cm, pit dug to 1.1m, and no results with isolated column and extended column tests. Knife-hard crust noted at 82cm depth (105cm from ground) and layer change in fist-hard to 4 finger-hard noted at 30 cm depth (157cm from ground). For whatever its worth, this layer did fail outside the pit after I "took the feet out" of a 10'x10' section, side stepped above, and traveresed across. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
South
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Clear skies with slope in shade with sun falling west. Light, chilling wind at top of ridge, calm during descent. 20 degree air temp at surface of snow.