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Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
2/6/2015
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Lower Electric Lake
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
very warm once the sun came up, but pack is refreezing at night, especially in lower drainages, we went in search of some corn, and timing was everything
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

every kind of snow condition you could imagine, from recystalized snow surface snow to windboard, hard crusts that quickly softened, and all in less that 10' as you moved from shade to sun, steeper to flat, aspect to aspect, near trees to more open terrain, we were able to time our morning to take advantage of LOUD scratchy pre-corn crust on E facing to soft to punchy all within in an hour. Most terrain has been tracked with snomobiles, wind drifted back in to a point, but finding consistent conditions was a challenge if not nearly impossible. Best to be expected 20 linked turns in some places, less that 10 in others

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
low hazard day other than slick hard crusts that made you pay attention.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

we were a little surprised at weakening crystals beneath crusts, but after thinking about it, shallow pack still have enough gradient to not allow strengthening, and even though we have had such abnormal warm weather, sun angles are still low enough to limit intense solar radiation and this pack is far from heading isothermic.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem #2 Comments

many slick surfaces abound, if it every really snows again, good sliding surfaces exist

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,800'
Slope Angle
22°
Comments

Snow Stake at Miller Flat says it all

Mighty <5 cm on our interval board from last weekend storm

but as least the beacon checker still works

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates