Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
4/14/2022
Observer Name
Magerl
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Electric Lake
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Clouds broke at about 10 A.M. and produced rapid warming for the next 90 minutes. After that, scattered high clouds and increased, swirling winds, but not enough to keep the snow cool. Unlike the past few days of winter weather, today presented a rapid return to spring.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow was being transported easily early in the day, but the morning shot of direct sun made everything damp and reduced but did not stop the snow transport. Warmth was enough to transform dry powder snow into damp snow even in the shaded north facing at 9,500'. This far into April, the midday sun was high enough to shine on 30 degree north-facing slopes. Saw or felt no collapsing. Snow was bonding well and did not crack, slough or run at this lower elevation (9,500'-8,600'). On knobs and ridgelines, quickly in and out of drifts and areas scoured down to the dirty melt/freeze crust. Storm depth was generally 4" to 6" by early afternoon, but this probably reflects the wind stripping off some snow and the sun/warmth causing contraction. I will expect everything around Electric Lake to have a crust Friday morning.
Comments
Probably a completely different story above 10,000'. Dug a pit at 8,700' NNW. Total depth 115 cm, with 10 cm of storm snow on top of the dirty melt/freeze crust. After that, about 20 cm of VERY stout crusts, including at least two ice layers. This stuff is solid! Below that, about 20 cm of very loose unconsolidated. Not sure what to make of this, but hard to believe that a skier could possibly collapse this thick crust. The sled uptracks at Electric Lake from yesterday showed a few places where the tread would strip off all the storm snow but would not break through the m/f crust.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None