Strong to Extreme Winds on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Red lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 10:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 3.342" N, 119° 58' 35.6988" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Snow has settled significantly and ski pen was greatly reduced even in wind sheltered areas.

Wind has scoured windward aspects down to 1ft+ tall sastrugi and a firm crust. Lee aspects near ridgelines were firm (1cm ski pen) wind slab, with no signs of instabilities observed. Below ridgelines, wind crust and thin slab remains breakable with no propagation observed.

Pic: Several crowns just under Red Lake Peak summit, likely triggered by cornice failure yesterday. Debris that came to rest midslope was still angular and on the snow surface. Other debris had reached Crater Lake. Strong to Extreme winds continued to develop cornices, two of which appeared to have fallen sometime this morning, yet failed to trigger remaining hang fire.

Winds were keeping upper elevation solar aspects cool, but intense solar radiation was warming mid elevation (~8400ft) solar aspects to a wet surface by late morning.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Air temperature: 
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Winds increased to Strong by mid morning, and by 10am it became hard to maintain balance. Winds continued to increase and met the definition of Extreme for extended periods, and we gave up on continued travel before 11am at 9300ft.