Observations from Rubicon Peak and Peak 9,269'.

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak and Peak 9,269'
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/06/2018 - 11:35
Location Map: 
United States
38° 58' 59.1528" N, 120° 7' 40.0728" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Solar aspects in this area are undergoing daily melt-freeze cycles. E aspects remain transitional with surface melt-freeze crust on top of recent storm snow yet to undergo melt. SE aspects have made the full transition to a spring snowpack regime. HS at 8,500' on SE aspects is just 2 feet or less in this area. Below 8,200' there is an abrupt transition to insufficient snow cover for skiing on solar aspects.

N-NE aspects have a thin surface melt freeze crust up to around 8,000'. Large areas of recent storm snow that has yet to undergo melt exist on N-NE aspects above about 8,000'.

A test pit was dug at 8668' on the North side of Rubicon Peak.  Near surface facets existed on the snow surface with well bonded recent storm snow below that.  Below our last storm snow ( about 1' deep) is a prominent crust.  Less dense and in some cases faceted snow continues to exist above and below this crust.  CT's showed sudden collapse results on a layer of weaker snow below the main crust.  ECTX was recorded and showed no signs of failure or propagation with these layers.  

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
More detailed information about the weather: 

Winds limited to ridgetops.