Observations from Blue Lakes

Location Name: 
Blue Lakes
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 01/27/2018 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 37' 56.7372" N, 119° 56' 56.0472" 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
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Picture: Facets above and below the most recently buried crust, with Sudden Planar results both above and below. The more developed facets were observed below the crust. Tests performed on N aspect at Lost Lakes and N aspects near Upper Blue. Still not much of a slab observed above these facets, with 20-30cm of Fist hard snow.

At the Nipple, 2x recent natural Loose Dry and a recent crown observed. The crown may have been on the facets (around the right height, zippered between rocks, and sympathetic to a nearby Loose Dry). All of these were less than D2 in destructive potential. Roller balls observed on steep and rocky SE aspect.

Recent but not current wind loading observed today. Snowmobile cutting of wind loaded test slopes produced shooting cracks, but only right at the most prominent wind loaded features. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Thin cloud cover. Temps never quite got as warm as forecast. Winds not as strong as forecast.