Near crust facets on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/28/2018 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 15.204" N, 119° 58' 31.512" W
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

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

I found the near crust facet layer about 55cm beneath the surface on Red Lake Peak, at the location mapped: 8720', NNE aspect. 30cm of Fist-hard snow at the surface sat above 20cm of 4F-1F rounds, with a 2cm crust and the facet layer beneath this. The rounds were cohesive enough to form a slab above the 4F-hard facets. I did not observe facets above the crust. Tests were not overwhelmingly conclusive, but PSTs indicated some potential for propagation: 2x PST45/100 END, CT26 BRK, CT28 BRK, ECTP28, ECTX. 

Ski kicks and cuts on north-facing, wind-loaded test slopes along the NE ridge of Red Lake Peak did not produce any significant cracking except for the one in this photo. This crack only occurred when undercut by my skin track, and was no more than a few inches deep. (Around ~9300') In general wind slabs were very hard, with ski penetration of 5cm or less. I saw some evidence of scouring by east winds, but did not observe any significant wind slab on the west side of the summit. 

At 9900', on a N-facing, wind-loaded slope, I got sudden planar CTM results on multiple, inobvious layers within the wind slab, but none of them propagated in an ECT (ECTN). 

I could see rollerballs off of the rocks in steep, E-facing terrain above Crater Lake. Solar aspects were wet by mid-day. Protected N-facing aspects held cold, dry snow all day. 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static