Picturevisit us on instagram
               Now get our bulletin and daily weather forecast on facebook and twitter Also visit us on Instagram
Please support the Center. Your donations are important to keeping this program going and bringing you more resources in the future. 
Avalanche Education for 2014/15 
   National Ski
  Patrol - Local
 Claremont Calif. L.A.
Level 1 Class sessions 
        6pm - 10pm
#1 January 6th & 8th
#2 February 17 & 19 
#3 March 10 & 12
     Field Sessions
January 10 & 11
February 21 & 22
March 14 & 15


  Sierra Mountain
         Center 
         Bishop, Ca
       Level 1 classes
Dec. 27 - 29
Jan. 3 - 5/ 17 - 19
Feb. 14 - 16
March 7 - 9/ 28 - 30
        Level 2 class
     Rock Creek Lodge 
Feb. 28 - March 3


 Sierra Mountain
        Guides
         Bishop, Ca.
     Level 1 classes
Dec. 27 - 29
Jan. 17 - 19/ 31 - Feb 2
Feb. 14 - 16
       Level 2 class
Feb. 6 - 9


For level 3 classes visit 
    the AAI & AAIRE 
          websites
Picture
Slide path in the San Gabriel mountains
Please contribute your observations from the backcountry by posting a quick note in the discussion forum or submitting an observation or trip report in the reports section. 
Picture
weather

General Mountain Weather Forecast
 1-27-15 The storm came in wet and warm as expected the only reports of snow is of dustings at higher elevations. There could have been some accumulation up high but we have no equipment or sensors to log that information. Today will see a slight chance for snow showers in the early morning as the storm moves to the North. Mostly cloudy skies clearing later in the day with moderate to light winds and cooler temperatures for the day. ••• The previous forecast discussion ••• Tuesday morning things are expected to start clearing out brining a slightly cooler day with scattered showers in the morning and drying for the day. Wednesday will bring a weak high pressure ridge with warming and more clearing and Thursday will bring a weak low through Friday into Saturday with uncertain forecasting for precipitation but there is a chance. Again things will be on the warmer side with high elevation snow levels. Sunday will bring clearing going into next week.

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. 

                                  Current info 1-24-2015
                      •••Avalanche Center Fundraiser•••

Picture
Jeremy Jones Latest film "Higher" will be premiered

                                 The Fundraiser is set for February 28, 2015 and will be at Mountain High
                                Resort in Wrightwood, Ca. for more info and tickets visit the events page.

Picture
              Bulletin January 9, 2015
                             Posted by Allen Giernet

Following the New years cold snap we found our last bulletin to be fairly on track with the extreme cold temps for our area facets were developing a few centimeter into a rather thin snowpack. The Northerly winds associated with that event and very light dry snow actually put much of the snow onto the depleted or dry Southerly aspects with no base to speak of. In sheltered areas on Northern aspects we found solid depth hoar that would just pop out upon trying to clear a wall (no chance of isolating a block) but observing this on sunday already was showing signs of rounding due to the isothermal snowpack being set up by the warming temperatures. The snow depth and consistency was extremely variable from a couple of inches to 2.5 feet/ 5cm to 76cm and melt freeze crust, crusted windboard to fresh powder. With little to no base and the light snow in deeper areas riding/ Skiing was damaging at best. With the warm weather moving in over the weekend and through the week and temperatures not even getting close to freezing overnight we can expect to see loss of snow, rounding in the facetted layers and consolidation through the remaining snow. Be aware of warm afternoons and the potential for wet slide activity much like spring conditions. With temperatures forecast to cool down over the weekend we will see some melt freeze crusts develop overnight on what remains of the snow. Be aware that variations and differences throughout different aspects, elevations and locations will exist. Ultimately use caution when traveling in the backcountry. Practice standard avalanche protocols bring your beacon, shovel and probe and travel with a partner. 
Visit the reports page for recent observations.
Picture
current

 Special announcement 2014/15 season
  We here at SCSAC are exited for winter to set upon us. Hopefully 2014/15 will bring us a much better winter season. Despite whatever mother nature has in store we are planning an even better season for all of our supporters and visitors at the avalanche center. We are working feverishly to put together our calendar and have many programs scheduled. Upcoming for this season will be several Avalanche awareness presentations with the first one in November. Our second annual fundraiser event Location and Date TBA. Beacon training and Rescue programs and we are working closely with the National Ski Patrol to provide 3 avalanche level  1courses locally. Dates for all events will posted as they are confirmed. Please check back to the website often for updates. Share this site and information with anyone you know that can benefit from our services. 

   We want to thank everyone for their support, participation, and contributions to So Cal Snow. Without you we will not have another fantastic season so please lend your support in any way you can. Your contributions go a long way in keeping the program up and running and providing the free and low cost events. We are also looking for volunteers, please contact us if your interested and we can share options to help us out. Remember So Cal Snow is here for you and can not continue without you.

 HERSHON LAW

2014/15  Events   
The Avalanche Center
February 28, 2015
 The second annual 
  SCSAC Fundraiser
             At 
    Mountain High Resort
  We are again partnering
              with  TGR
    Teton Gravity Research
    to bring you the latest
         Jeremy Jones film 
                 "Higher"
    Come out and join us
      for a good time great,
         people and to help 
          support your local
          avalanche center.       Lets make this a bigger       and better event than                  last season.
There will be a large prize pool for raffles and silents auctions, Snowboards, Skis, Avalanche gear and     more.  For tickets and                  more info visit 
          the events page 
   
    Free Avalanche
      Awareness 
    Presentations: 
    Everyone is welcome
   The Claremont College
   program is rescheduled
     Claremont College Outdoor Education Center
        601 Amherst Av.
      Claremont, Ca. 91711
Rescheduled for February
       to be announced
The Adventure 16
          series
Happy 1/2 hour  6:30pm 
   Presentation  7:00pm
     January 14th, 2014 
 Adventure 16 San Diego
  4620 Alvarado Canyon Rd.
 San Diegeo, CA, 92120 USA

     January 15th, 2014
   Adventure 16 Tarzana
       5425 Reseda Blvd.
  Tarzana, CA, 91356 USA
 
      January 16th, 2014
   Adventure 16 West L.A.
      11161 W. Pico Blvd.
 Los Angeles, CA, 90064 USA 

   Future dates and events  TBA soon be sure to visit the events page for updates and details
Awareness
Picture
There are avalanches in So Cal. This sign is on the road just before Mt. Baldy trailhead

Latest Observtions

Observation type - Snowpack
Location (general area) - Dollar Lake trail in San Gorgonio Wilderness
Date (yyyymmdd) - 01/04/15
Comment - Loose faceted grains at bottom 10cm of pit shot out while cleaning back wall. we did not attempt to isolate a block as the bottom was half gone from clearing the wall. The facets appeared to be rounding with the warmer temps.... 
Observation type - Snowpack
Location (general area) - Mt. San Gorgonio Wilderness
Date (yyyymmdd) - 01/03/15
Comment - Skinned from car Jan. 2, 2015 starting at the fire road by Jenks lake area to Dollar Lake/ Dry lake trailsplit. Coverage thin at road but improved with elevation. 
North aspects were best....
Observation type - Snowpack
Location (general area) - Mt Islip
Date (yyyymmdd) - 01/01/15
Comment - Small cornices showed snow from the previous storm was blown around from the north.
Highly variable conditions: scoured/loaded, deep/thin, ice/pow all within a few feet.  

Multiple slope tests showed uncohesive blower-pow adhered well to underlying frozen-solid, sun-cupped old snow...
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.