Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Anonymous
Keep me anonymous if published
yes
Location (general area)
San Bernardino Mountains
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
20170104
Time
1409
Road conditions to area
Clear with patchy ice
Temperature
0° c / 32°F
Sky
Overcast (sky covered)
Wind speed
Moderate (17-25mph Small trees sway/ flags stretched)
Wind direction
NW
Wind direction in degrees
N/O
Slope aspect
South East
Aspect in degrees
25°
Slope angle
38°
Elevation
9,846'
Snow depth
39cm
Boot/ Ski penetration
28cm/ 20cm
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no 
Rapid warming
yes
Obvious avalanche path
yes 
Terrain trap
yes
Comment
Skin from car with 10 - 20m at start 7:30am
 
Several quick pits along the way showed varying depths of consolidating recent snow on a 1 to 2" ice crust at the base
 
at 8,300'/ we found 6" of recent snow (consolidating powder on a rain crust of 1.5". This was on the older snow from Christmas eve to the thin ice layer at the ground. All bonding at consolidation well where we investigated. The snow pack appeared to be isothermic.
 
Later investigation at 9,846 confirmed our suspicions of an isothermal snow pack. Also the rain crust had disappeared at this elevation. Only consolidating powder on the ice crust near the ground.
 
Snow was soft the entire day. Warm temperatures and club cover in the afternoon was causing the lower elevation snow to become wet. This will lead to refreezing as will the rain that was moving in that night.
 
Our stability test was CTN no reaction
 
Snow pack varied in depth above 7,500' on Northerly aspects from 16" to 3'. still had to watch for shallow rocks and tree stumps. Probably the last day of good soft snow below 9,000'.

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Yes I would like this observation Published

Skin track in lovely soft snow

pit profile