Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Allen Giernet

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Kratka Ridge

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20190310

Time
1349

Road conditions to area
Clear and dry except a few wet areas that will freeze overnight, snowing near 6,500' and sticking at 3:00pm

Temperature
30°F/ -1°C

Sky
Overcast (sky covered)

Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees
calm - no wind

Slope aspect
North West

Aspect in degrees
350°

Slope angle
31°

Elevation
7,404'/4,096m

Snow depth
33"/ 85cm

Boot/ Ski penetration
.5"/ 1.25cm both

Precipitation.
Light

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
yes

Comment
Hwy 2 still closed at Mt. Wilson, open beyond Big Tujunga to Islip saddle. Snow on road beyond Islip saddle gate

Snow was not contiguous on ground until just before Mt. Waterman

1" to 2" of consolidated new snow in top of a firm ice crust. 

Height of snow 33.5"/ 85cm 

Almost no boot or ski penetration due to icy layer. 

Firm snow was difficult to edge on. New snow of 1-2" would easily slip across ice layer just below.

Upper snowpack is refrozen and digging very difficult since I didn’t bring my jackhammer I abandoned digging
a pit. Snow pack was very frim and due to the last two rain events and deep freezing has set up into a fairly sold block

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

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