TAHOE: LAND OF THE SNOWFLAKES -- 17/18 STOKE

**lepistoir** · 11-16-2017, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by hercule33

Anyone down for a tour of North Lake tomorrow because I need partner.

I was thinking Castle Peak or Andesite if conditions permit. I am a bit out of shape, just looking for a chill tour to get out on the snow and get my touring legs back. I am AAIRE Level 1 certified, have been back country skiing for the last 5 years but mostly do guided trips. I am conservative when it comes to safety and will ski my skin track if instabilities exist. PM me if you are interested.

I'm interested buy stuck in moving hell. Will look for your observations. Also curious about the use of absolute language like whether "instabilities exist". I think you are good to focus on the problem in the snowpac. I am just musing about language -not talking about you. We see in the SAC report above that there is an instability in the form of basal facets and rapid loading (also rain on snow in some places). So I think the question to ask is whether the risk is acceptable in a given zone or slope. I dunno. Maybe Schralph has a perspective. Am I fetishizing nuance to a fault?

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3s · 11-16-2017, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Eastern Sierra Skier

Which side of the hill? Incline or Galena?

Galena side

**hercule33** · 11-16-2017, 01:33 PM

Good point about the language. I meant if there are signs of instabilities like whoomphing, shooting cracks, other avalanches near by, weak layer in a hand pit etc. It's always a bit scary early in the season with a shallow snowpack. Reports of surface hoar and basel facets are never good.

That's a part of the reason I like the Castle Peak. The longish approach that's out of avalanche terrain let's you get a feel for the snow.

**Ottime** · 11-16-2017, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by lepistoir

I'm interested buy stuck in moving hell. Will look for your observations. Also curious about the use of absolute language like whether "instabilities exist". I think you are good to focus on the problem in the snowpac. I am just musing about language -not talking about you. We see in the SAC report above that there is an instability in the form of basal facets and rapid loading (also rain on snow in some places). So I think the question to ask is whether the risk is acceptable in a given zone or slope. I dunno. Maybe Schralph has a perspective. Am I fetishizing nuance to a fault?

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He's in the Oregon thread now.

KW is clearing now. No snow on trees to the top of 11. But most of the slopes look like they have a base. Valley temps now 37; been rising all day.

Interestingly the map I'm looking at shows rain at TC base, mixed at Main base, with frozen precipitation around the top of 10.

Dumping in SC now. AR started shifting south early this morning. Maybe there will be cold air soon.

Looks like upper Nevada side is fairing better. They are running cats on what looks like 30" of dank.

**powdork** · 11-16-2017, 04:31 PM

the clearing thing will be brief. should be 6-8 hours more heavy rain for the wood.
the new forecast is for very little to no snow after the cold front passes later tonight. this was a good storm for base over 8.8k. not good for much else

**TurxSki** · 11-16-2017, 05:11 PM

Just saw this:
* Mt. Rose will be closed Friday Nov 17 due to severe weather conditions and snow management. *

I wonder if Heavenly will go ahead with their projected Friday opening?
Assumed it'd be the Jongdala, not Stagecoach/Bouder or CA lodges.
Parking (free) around there doesn't look too easy??

**TahoeBC** · 11-16-2017, 05:54 PM

Harrah's parking is pretty much the go to spot, but you can also take a free shuttle from the California base, and possibly stagecoach?

**rod9301** · 11-16-2017, 06:01 PM

Any idea how much Carson pass got?

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**TahoeBC** · 11-16-2017, 06:13 PM

Carson pass snotel is showing 12", Heavenly's is showing 14"

**El Chupacabra** · 11-16-2017, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by AKbruin

16" of wet-ass snow at ~7,500' this morning. It's been raining since daybreak. The snow level was over 8,500' at about 8 p.m. last night. So I doubt there's much, if any, facet layer left.

Attachment 216343

Damn.

4-5" of rain in Galena. What a difference a couple feet elevation makes...

**rod9301** · 11-16-2017, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

Carson pass snotel is showing 12", Heavenly's is showing 14"

Thanks, I was hoping for more, I was thinking of crescent Moon couloir.

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**Wobby** · 11-16-2017, 06:35 PM

See you JONGs out there tomorrow. Only one way to truly find out what its like

**Dhelihiker** · 11-16-2017, 06:35 PM

I wanna pop pop pop
I wanna....................

**splitter** · 11-16-2017, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by sruffian

Plan was hourglass, we'll see how things shake out

https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.or...nche-hourglass

**Wobby** · 11-16-2017, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by splitter

https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.or...nche-hourglass

Holy shit. Glad everyone survived. Just remember to be safe out there folks!

**sruffian** · 11-16-2017, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by splitter

https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.or...nche-hourglass

Shit man. Had a weird feeling about those facets showing up in previous obs. Glad everyone is safe, good reminder our favorite roadside attraction can go.

Looks like ophir peak/chickadee tomorrow mornin

**Wobby** · 11-16-2017, 07:39 PM

I mean. Wasn't it kind of predictable? I'm not saying that any one of us couldn't have been caught (any Mags there btw?), but when you get 30+ inches of heavy wet snow in a day...

Sometimes its better to wait out the storm a bit.

**Eastern Sierra Skier** · 11-16-2017, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by TurxSki

Just saw this:
* Mt. Rose will be closed Friday Nov 17 due to severe weather conditions and snow management. *

Yep, just checked the Rose web page and saw that. Kinda bummed, closed two days in a row?? Hope this is not a season long trend. On the positive side, Rose is claiming 30-36" of new snow. Let the Saturday morning madness begin!

**TurxSki** · 11-16-2017, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Eastern Sierra Skier

Yep, just checked the Rose web page and saw that. Kinda bummed, closed two days in a row?? Hope this is not a season long trend. On the positive side, Rose is claiming 30-36" of new snow. Let the Saturday morning madness begin!

Do you think they'll be able to open any other lifts?
Staffing, coverage & stability wise?

**TurxSki** · 11-16-2017, 09:31 PM

Heavenly are opening tomorrow.
*Mountain access through the Gondola
Cal Trail and Tamarack Return are open for intermediate skiing
Tubing lift and hill are open for beginner skiing*

**2_1_3** · 11-16-2017, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by splitter

https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.or...nche-hourglass

This scenario was discussed in another paper we published this year on atmospheric rivers (ARs) and avalanches:

"...shallow snowpacks that formed after early season snowfalls were weakened by basal and near-surface faceting during subsequent multiple weeks of cold and dry weather [see also Mock and Birkeland (2000)]. Deadly avalanche cycles occurred when the arrival of AR conditions produced heavy precipitation and rapid loading of existing weak snowpacks."

Be careful!