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Please support the Center. Your donations are important to keeping this program going and bringing you more resources in the future.
5-25-20 High pressure brings warming today with mostly clear to sunny skies and light to moderate Northerly winds. Warming will continue into Thursday with temperatures reaching well above seasonal averages. Skies will remain clear to mostly clear through Thursday with predominately light to moderate Northerly winds. High pressure breaks down as winds shift to more Southerly and temperatures begin to cool Friday and much more significantly for next weekend.
At this time we support the American Avalanche Associations directions and strongly encourage everyone to follow the guidelines set forth by the state of California and the local municipalities guidelines. Please follow these guidelines and shelter at home! As our first responders and medical system becomes increasingly burdened it is important to act responsibly and not add to this burden. Many national forests and counties have implemented closures to prevent back country access around the nation. Thank you to everyone for using our services and doing your part in this time of crisis. -The SCSAC Staff- Hint: for historical weather forecast data use our facebook page as all posts are there on a running timeline. For more details check each areas forecast and weather stations for most current information. Snowpack Summary April 16, 2020
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:42 am This summary applies to backcountry areas only. The Bottom Line - With above freezing overnight temperatures and another day of warm afternoon temps. Wet Loose Avalanche will become more likely through the morning and the day. Loose Wet Avalanches will increase through the day. Slopes exposed to solar input will be most likely suspects but with the rapid increase in temperatures and Little to know overnight freezing, Wet Loose Avalanches will be possible on any aspect. This will be even more likely at the lower elevations. Watch for roller balls and pinwheels emanating from rock bands and trees. Also watch for snow becoming unsupportive and boots sinking in below boot tops or deeper through the morning. There has been numerous reports of large wet loose slides throughout the ranges and very large roller balls observed by mid day. If you do go out start early and finish early. Overall conditions will be quite variable and could change significantly through the day. Be alert to what you see and be aware of what’s above and below you. If you don’t live in the area then think twice about traveling to any of these destinations. Not only is the avalanche risk heightened at this time but the need to limit contact and abide by local and state protocols as paramount! Be overcautious at these times if you do go out as our first responders already have their hands full with much more pressing matters. Be part of the solution not the problem. Do not congregate at trail heads and do not gather in groups. Move from areas that have too many people or go home. Use caution if venturing into any backcountry areas especially on slopes over 30°. Be extra conservative during these times as our emergency response personnel have their hands full already. Be sure you are prepared to deal with your own emergency in the backcountry as response times will most likely be much longer. If you are not prepared than plan a more conservative trip. 
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
General Summary
Special Announcement – At this time we strongly suggest you follow all local and state guidelines regarding safety precautions in relation to COVID-19. Respect and obey all closures. The Mt Baldy trails have all been closed by emergency order until April 30. Local ski resorts have posted no up hill travel during this time. There have been several avalanche incidents around the country in the past several days. There have been local search and rescue operations initiated recently. Our first responders have more than enough to deal with and hospital beds are a slim commodity. Do Not take one up as a result of your recreation or put rescue personnel at unnecessary risk. If you do venture out please do so responsibly. Practice "Physical Distancing" as has been mandated. If you go to a trailhead, a mountain location or other outdoor escape and find there are already a number of people there, respectfully move on!!!. Do this for the safety of everyone else as well as yourself. To add to the potential risk avalanche danger has increased during this current storm and will remain up through the week. At this time we suggest that everyone shelter at home and minimize the strain on our local services. Back country travel is not advised at this time due to the current crisis and increased avalanche hazard. To better understand the challenges and potential variability over the large area we are producing information for please read our Snowpack Summary - Format and Limitations
Disclaimer:
This Bulletin is designed to generally describe conditions where local variations always occur. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and make slope specific evaluations. As always, please treat this bulletin with appropriately guarded skepticism and make your own assessments. Help to provide more information to the community by reporting your observations Latest Observtions
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Observation type
Snowpack Location - Charlton Peak Date (yyyymmdd) - 20200411 Comment - One natural slide on Jepson seen from skinning up the east ridge of Charlton Peak. Hard to get accurate read on it from so far away. Obvious wind loading on San G and Jepson. Looked quite treacherous on many aspects. Charlton had a few feet of fresh snow with localized wind slabs. Rapid warming throughout the day also observed. A small loose snow sluff was triggered under two riders traverse out of Dog Leg couloir on Charlton's NE side. High winds on summit of Charlton, almost zero wind below it. Anything above 11k' or just below probably got hammered by winds lately adding to stability concerns in the higher alpine |
Observation type - Snowpack
Location (general area) - Waterman Summit Date (yyyymmdd) - 20200411 Comment - Dug a pit a check stability near the summit of Waterman. New snowfall measured 14", and was moist and heavy. Thin, light, dry crust on top. 1cm sugar layer between old snow pack and storm layer. Storm layer broke with heavy pounding and no propagation. Zipper crust turned to paste by noon on second ascent. No instability of slides on our descent, but noticed wet slides on steep angle sun exposed faces after 12pm. |
Observation type
snowpack Location - Mt Charlton Date (yyyymmdd) - 20200328 Comment - Consistent 1 finger to 4 finger snow from 0-60cm. @ 60cm - 1 pencil snow, likely from a rain crust @ 70cm - Lots of facets. 3mm facets. Fist+ |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Baldy Bowl East Trees Date (yyyymmdd) - 20200322 Comment - Snow in solar aspects in sun was very heavy between 8000-9000. Trees skied well at 1pm, before clouds and precip came in. Compression and ECT test gave no results. Post if useful. Goal of trip was to make some observations before this current storm cycle came in. |
General Caution
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.
SCSAC T-shirts and Hats now available
with donation
Fundraising
campaign
We are raising funds to purchase and install the first of several weather stations at remote locations in our local mountains. This will bring us much needed pertinent data from above snow line that we doe not have reliable resources for. Satelite link up will bring us snow depth and amounts, along with wind, temperature and much more and will be available to the public.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 to purchase the equipment, cover installations costs and provide for a much needed overhaul of the website.
Please contribute to make this a reality for us all. Click on the donate button below and come out to join our annual fundraiser event at Mt. Baldy
Goal: $10,000 Recieved: $2,500.00
For more information go to the Fundraiser Program page
campaign
We are raising funds to purchase and install the first of several weather stations at remote locations in our local mountains. This will bring us much needed pertinent data from above snow line that we doe not have reliable resources for. Satelite link up will bring us snow depth and amounts, along with wind, temperature and much more and will be available to the public.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 to purchase the equipment, cover installations costs and provide for a much needed overhaul of the website.
Please contribute to make this a reality for us all. Click on the donate button below and come out to join our annual fundraiser event at Mt. Baldy
Goal: $10,000 Recieved: $2,500.00
For more information go to the Fundraiser Program page
2019/20 Events
The Avalanche Center
The Avalanche Center
Events 2019/20Free Avalanche
Awareness
Presentations:
Everyone is welcome
Our first presentation of the Season
Sports LTD
Unfortunately Rescheduled for a later date
More Dates and locations coming soon
Awareness
Presentations:
Everyone is welcome
Our first presentation of the Season
Sports LTD
Unfortunately Rescheduled for a later date
More Dates and locations coming soon
National Ski
Patrol - Local
Claremont Calif. L.A.
Level 1 Class sessions
Registration
live now
January 14 & 16
Field sessions
January 25 & 26
February 22 & 23
March 7 & 8
Level 2 Class sessions
January 28 & 30
Registration
live now
Field sessions February 22 & 23
March 7 & 8
Go To Events page for full details
Sierra Mountain
Center
Bishop, Ca
Sierra Mountain
Guides
Bishop, Ca.
Sierra
Mountaineering
International
Bishop, Ca
For the current curriculum nationwide visit the
AAI
AAIRE
&
A3
websites
Patrol - Local
Claremont Calif. L.A.
Level 1 Class sessions
Registration
live now
January 14 & 16
Field sessions
January 25 & 26
February 22 & 23
March 7 & 8
Level 2 Class sessions
January 28 & 30
Registration
live now
Field sessions February 22 & 23
March 7 & 8
Go To Events page for full details
Sierra Mountain
Center
Bishop, Ca
Sierra Mountain
Guides
Bishop, Ca.
Sierra
Mountaineering
International
Bishop, Ca
For the current curriculum nationwide visit the
AAI
AAIRE
&
A3
websites
