Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Allen Giernet 

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Angeles Crest

Latitude
34.37458 

Longitude
-117.89905

Date (yyyymmdd)
20210316

Time
1242

Road conditions to area
Road in dry mostly to 4900’ then large patches of slick ice in shaded turns etc.

Temperature
1.5°C

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)

Wind direction
SW

Wind direction in degrees
N/O

Slope aspect
North

Aspect in degrees
350°

Slope angle
30°

Elevation
2,264m/ 7427'

Snow depth
84cm/ 33"

Boot/ Ski penetration
pf 26cm/ ps 9cm

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Rapid warming
yes

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
Reported @ 8am trees covered with snow and AT 21F
By 10 see noted. 

9:50am 
Roller balls from road cut 6700’ NNE aspect road still mostly ice below. AT below or near freezing. Intense solar input. 

10:25 
6772’
AT 1C

Trees mostly bare down low. By 7,000’ some snow and falling from trees due to warming and sun

NW slope near 6900’ wind drift at trail cut 30cm. Soft slab in hand pit looked like surface hoar at bottom easily broken loose. No obvious signs of instability. 

1:30 NE slopes had significant warming and moisture in the area we were. Snow was becoming sticky and heavy. NW & N aspects were still maintaining soft snow. 

On the drive out both NE & NW aspects should numerous roller balls and pinwheels. At lower elevation cloud cover had moved in from the S and solar input effects on the snow was stoped. Air temps were not much above freezing but had risen significantly since early morning.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Pit Profile

View to the East from the Ridge