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Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
2/24/2017
Observer Name
Darce Trotter / Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Electric Lake Bowl
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
snow squalls intermixed with sun poking through, SW winds at ridgelines still knocking snow off trees, but still not moderate speeds, temps remained cool all day,
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

wind exposed areas would refill uptrack, moving snow off ridgelines, but in protected areas we skied today, no slabs were present although we did note pack was settling out from cold smoke first thing in AM to more low density snow, no doubt forming new cornices and wind slabs, as in forecast. We stayed in well known terrain and after a couple of ski cuts, found only new snow sluffing,

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
no doubt the wind slabs were present on NE through ESE aspects, low density snow easily moved by wind, noted new small cornices formed but did not see any natural activity in the area.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

snow was very well behaved out of wind, right side up, sluffing as noted above, visibility was still poor over summit, and we did not get a look at any of the higher terrain today

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

new cornices were easily formed from loose snow in fetches, but we were preoccupied with the stellar hero snow, and did not get into any, increase in wind will grow them quickly

Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,400'
Slope Angle
29°
Video

did have failure at new snow / old snow interface with old skool CT, but could not duplicate with ECT, gaining strength nicely

Video

265 cm or 117" of snow!!! at 9500'

winter is back, there is a reason this is one of our favorite haunts

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