Snowpack

Rubicon Peak

Steve ReynaudCentral Sierra Nevada
View on map
Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3Observation photo 4Observation photo 5

Weather

Air Temp
38
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
0
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Sunny skies with mild temperatures on the West Shore today. Winds were calm near the peak in the early afternoon.

Snowpack

We made observations on Rubicon Peak today.  Snow coverage has decreased at lower elevations since our last visit here 2 weeks ago.  As we ascended above 7500' on northerly aspects 1-2' of snow existed, with around 1' of snow on easterly aspects.  The shallow snowpack is faceting on N-E aspects with the clear weather we have been experiencing.  Snow from early in the season at the base of the snowpack that had been heavily rained on in mid-November has refrozen and is a firm consolidated basal layer and only exists on northerly aspects above around 8500'.   The faceting process is expected to continue with clear skies, long nights, and low sun angles.