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Red Butte Tour

Location Name: 
Red Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/04/2018 - 10:00pm
Observation made by: 
Professional Observer

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 21' 43.6428" N, 122° 10' 51.1932" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

Observations made during a 3 mile tour to Red Butte and South Gate Meadows in W, E, S, SE, N, NE, NW terrain:

  • Height of storm snow (HST): 45-90 cm (18-36 in)
  • Right side up configuration on all aspects (hardness F-4F-1F).
  • Plenty of dry low density snow available for transport. Winds were calm to light. Very few signs of wind effect from the last storm beginning on 02/28/2018.
  • No signs of cornices, wind slabs, or storm slabs.
  • No obvious signs of avalanche danger including: no observed avalanches or whumphing or shooting cracks.
  • Upper mountain obscured.
  • Snow pits dug at two similar NE aspects showed slightly different structures and depths, but generally consisted of new storm snow with F-4F-1F hardness sitting atop a mix of rounding facets and ice layers or melt/freeze layers. Failures were stubborn to unreactive. Results from stability tests at two NE facing aspects at 7800 ft:
    • Location 1:
      • CT17 ↓ 30 cm  BRK x 2, CTN
      • ECTN17 ↓ 30 cm, ECTX
    • Location 2:
      • CT20 ↓ 95 cm SC
      • ECTN15 ↓ 40 cm, ECTX 
  • Slope ski cut tests yielded no results (SCN).
  • Ski Penetration (PS) / Boot Penetration (PB): 20 cm / 30 cm.
  • Minor sloughs triggered on slopes greater than 35 degrees.
  • Ski and riding conditions were as good as it gets in these parts.

Photos

  • Pit Location 2
  • Pit Location 1

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
No
Precipitation: 
Snow
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
Northwest