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Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
12/13/2013
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/ Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Electric Lake Bowl
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
temps are moderating and were around -5C today, pretty balmy considering last week. No significant wind damage on upper ridge lines yet, todays weak front has not drifted south as of our observation. Winds did finally start up around 11 AM, skies were high overcast, but all in all, pretty calm morning. Overnight temps continue to drive surface hoar growth almost everywhere and create enough gradient to continue to weaken entire shallow snowpack.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

last storm has settled to 10 cm, settlement cones everywhere, but did not add much body to the existing snowpack. We elected to use established up track Steve, Craig, and the boys broke last Wednesday to ascend the lower parts of Electric Lake area, but sandboxed our way to the top of the bowl around 9500' to check out steeper terrain and snow. Total snow at 9500' was 70 cm, 60 cm at Miller Flats snow stake. Skiing entire snowpack much as Steve described on Wednesday, and never found anything worthy of lapping. Weak snowpack structure is the rule, any old windcrusts have deteriorated and its a moshpit.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
no hazard today, bigger snow storm will start active cycle, but we continue to very slowly add to pack, not getting any stronger,
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

see snowpit video discussion

Video

snow geek pic of surface hoar

A look at the upper ridgelines, still a lot of cliff bands, bushes, and rock exposed

week old activity in Electric Lake Bowl

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