Observation: White Pine Gulch

Observation Date
12/4/2014
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Location Name or Route
White Pine to near the ridge near Lake Peak at 10,000'
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Balmy, warm weather with periods of sun--very beautiful
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Riding conditions were surprisingly good on shady slopes above about 9,000'. Snow was 1-2 inches of fast, dense, rimed snow on a spongy, Styrofoam base stiff enough to keep you off the rocks. Total snow depth was around a meter (3 feet) at 10,000' and around 60 cm (2 feet) at 9,000'. Snow below 9,000 was damp and down around 7000-8000' was downright soggy.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Few red flags.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

The persistent weak layers near the ground are quickly gaining strength because they are now damp in most places below about 10,000' and they have enough of an insulating slab above them to keep their temperature gradients at a sub critical level. Plus, the weather has been very warm and is forecast to continue very warm for about a week. So I'm guessing that this warm weather, combined with the total snow depth of around a meter, our problems with the depth hoar near the ground will mostly fade away this week. Good riddance.

The exception is probably the very upper elevation, north through east facing slopes that have remained thing because of wind scouring. I expect that the faceted snow will remain weak in many high elevation areas above about 10,000' and any future loading will likely reactivate them.

Snow Profile
Comments

Here is a 3-minute video on the basic snowpack setup and current snow surface conditions.

Video

Pretty darn rocky and windblown at elevations above about 10,000' in White Pine but there is much better coverage at lower elevations.

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