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Conditions update - Posted January 18 @ 6:07am
Due to rain well above 9,000'/ 2,743m and a well developed ice crust expect very firm and fast conditions throughout the mountain ranges where there is still snow. Bring crampons and ice axe and know how to self arrest. With warmer afternoon temps at lower elevation wetslide conditions will be possible on E,SE,S & SW aspects. This information applies to back country areas only. Snowpack Summary January 13, 2019
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:55am This summary applies to backcountry areas only. The Bottom Line - Limited snow/ early season We will begin regular summery posts once we have a solid snowpack. Following the recent storm we received about 5”/ 12.5cm to 11”/ 27.5cm at 8,000’/ 2,438m depending upon location. This snow fell on a mixed snow surface of icy crust, soft fresh snow or bare ground depending upon aspect and elevation. Bonding of the new snow to old snow surface will be quite variable throughout subtle aspect and elevation changes in all 3 of our mountain ranges. There will be pockets of instability where icy snow surfaces existed and in shallow areas that could lead to dry loose avalanches. Though these may not start out big they could sweep you off your feet through thin snow coverage and many obstacles with the potential to entrain more snow and result in burial. Be aware of what is below you and subtle changes in the snowpack as you travel through the mountains. Add to this the moderate Southerly winds through yesterday afternoon that shifted to a variable North to Easterly flow later in the day. There will be windloading on Northerly, Southerly and Westerly aspects below rigelines and crossloading in gullies and ravines. Look for the signs of windrifted snow especially below ridglines and in sheltered areas as these will be the most likely areas snow is holding and sensitive wind slabs will develop. The Windslabs may not be large but combined with the thin low tide conditions and poor bonding likely to be found in some areas, could easily sweep you off your feet for a nasty downhill ride. Be aware of dust on crust conditions where thin snow will be sitting upon an icy surface and easily result in a slide for life scenario. Go out today prepared to see a wide range of variability and with the proper tools to deal with the variable conditions you will find. More snow is on the way for next week with the potential for significant snowfall amounts. The above concerns will continue to exists due to adding snow through the next several days beginning early Monday morning. Added to Loose Snow Avalanches and Wind Slab Avalanches will be Storm Slab Avalanches if we get the significant amounts of snow currently forecast. These will begin to become the main concern by Tuesday through the rest of the week if the forecast holds true and will have the potential to generate larger avalanches with serious consequences. Be well aware of your surroundings and changing conditions throughout the day and your travel area. Expect variable conditions, be prepared with the proper equipment and plan accordingly. 
Avalanche Concern #1
Dry Looseavalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. 
Avalanche Concern #2
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may betermed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
General Summary
Avalanche Concern #1 - Dry Loose avalanche will be possible for today through the rest of the week with the additional storms forecast for the area. Avalanche Concern #2 - Wind Slab avalanche will be possible on Northerly, Southerly and Westerly aspects below ridgelines and crossloading in gullies or ravines. As winds become predominately Southerly through the rest of the storm cycles expect these Wind Slabs to become more widespread on Northerly Aspects as well as becoming more larger and more problematic. Avalanche Concern #3 - Storm Slab avalanche will develop late Monday into Tuesday morning as a concern if the forecast storm cycle holds true. Due to significant snowfall forecasted through most of next week this will become our biggest concern and has the potential to become a widespread problem Always practice use of avalanche skills when entering avalanche terrain and on steep slopes. Travel with a partner, use proper safe travel practices and carry a beacon shovel and probe. Most importantly know how to use them! 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 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
1-18-19 Warmer today with partially cloudy skies becomgin clear and moderate to light Westerly winds. There will be scattered showers possible this morning giving way to a mostly clear, sunny warm day. High pressure builds in for today and tomorrow. A low pressure trough to the north will bring a few clouds and slight cooling Monday. A strong high pressure ridge builds in for the rest fo nest week with mostly sunny skies and dry conditions.
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. Latest Observtions
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Observation type
snowpack Location - Buckhorn area Date (yyyymmdd) - 20190115 Comment - 0-5cm, 2cm knife hard on top of facets to dirt from December storm. 5-12cm, fist hard winter snow from 1/3/19, CT17 Q3 12-25cm, fist hard winter snow from 1/11/19 25-28cm, finger hard wet snow from 1/12/19 day 28-30cm, fist+ hard winter snow from 1/12/19 night, shovel sheer CT15 ECT15 no propagation Q2 30-50cm, fist hard winter snow from 1/14/19 morning 50-55cm, pencil to knife hard wet snow from 1/14/19 afternoon 55-60cm, fist hard winter snow 1/15/19 |
Observation type
- Snowpack Location (general area) - San Gorgonio Date (yyyymmdd) - 20190113 Time - 1015 Comment - Didn't take notes and going from memory.....Dug a pit to the right of the bottom of 2nd to right chute. 4-6" light new snow on top of last weeks snow - fist hard no slab formation. Depending upon aspect or if sheltered location there was or wasn't a crust. Higher up the chute crust became very hard and would require crampons. No crust at pit location. Approximately 14"-16" snow from last week snow on top of a layer of 1/2" faceted crusty snow layer - Shovel shear test indicated Q2~Q3 shear. At this layer CT was low 20's and (3) ECTNP mid 20's. Aprox. 24" snow depth below to ground and is one finger hard. Nothing too concerning below, some slightly faceted old slabs that did not fall apart into sugar snow. Noticed new surface hoar on the skin up to chute. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Waterman Date (yyyymmdd) - 20190106 Comment - Snow was thin at the bottom where no base remained. Traveling solo, i opted for the fire road on the ascent. Ski shear tests resulted in loose dry releases over the ice layer with no propagation...i was jumping pretty hard though. Tested on 30-35 degree northerly aspects off the fire road. Wind loading was apparent on these aspects as the skin track, someone was so nice enough to provide me with, had filled in in certain areas. Lower elevations def. had some hidden obsticles. Mid to upper elevations were looking better but ski slow and cautious. |
SCSAC T-shirts and Hats now available
for the 2017/ 2018 season 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
2017/18 Events
The Avalanche Center
The Avalanche Center
So Cal snow Fest SCSAC Fundraiser
Free Avalanche
Awareness
Presentations:
Everyone is welcome
California State
University
San Marcos
TBA
In the REC center /
Clarke Field House 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos, CA 92096
Claremont College Outdoor Education Center
601 Amherst Av.
Claremont, Ca. 91711
TBA
The Adventure 16
Free Avalanche
Awareness series
Happy half hour 6:30pm
Presentation 7:00pm
January TBA, 2018
Adventure 16 San Diego
4620 Alvarado Canyon Rd.
San Diegeo, CA, 92120 USA
January TBA, 2018
Adventure 16 Tarzana
5425 Reseda Blvd.
Tarzana, CA, 91356 USA
January TBA, 2018
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
Free Avalanche
Awareness
Presentations:
Everyone is welcome
California State
University
San Marcos
TBA
In the REC center /
Clarke Field House 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos, CA 92096
Claremont College Outdoor Education Center
601 Amherst Av.
Claremont, Ca. 91711
TBA
The Adventure 16
Free Avalanche
Awareness series
Happy half hour 6:30pm
Presentation 7:00pm
January TBA, 2018
Adventure 16 San Diego
4620 Alvarado Canyon Rd.
San Diegeo, CA, 92120 USA
January TBA, 2018
Adventure 16 Tarzana
5425 Reseda Blvd.
Tarzana, CA, 91356 USA
January TBA, 2018
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
National Ski
Patrol - Local
Claremont Calif. L.A.
Level 1 Class sessions
Registration
6pm - 10pm
January 9th & 11th
Level 2 class sessions
Returning in 2019
Field Sessions
(subject to snow conditions)
January 20th & 21st
February 10th $ 11th
March TBA
Sierra Mountain
Center
Bishop, Ca
Level 1 classes
2017/18 dates are up
Level 2 class
2017/18 Dates are up
Sierra Mountain
Guides
Bishop, Ca.
Level 1 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
Level 2 class
2017/18 Dates are up
Sierra
Mountaineering
International
Bishop, Ca
Level 1 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
Level 2 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
For the current curriculum visit
the AAI & AAIRE
websites
Patrol - Local
Claremont Calif. L.A.
Level 1 Class sessions
Registration
6pm - 10pm
January 9th & 11th
Level 2 class sessions
Returning in 2019
Field Sessions
(subject to snow conditions)
January 20th & 21st
February 10th $ 11th
March TBA
Sierra Mountain
Center
Bishop, Ca
Level 1 classes
2017/18 dates are up
Level 2 class
2017/18 Dates are up
Sierra Mountain
Guides
Bishop, Ca.
Level 1 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
Level 2 class
2017/18 Dates are up
Sierra
Mountaineering
International
Bishop, Ca
Level 1 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
Level 2 classes
2017/18 Dates are up
For the current curriculum visit
the AAI & AAIRE
websites
Slide path in the San Gabriel mountains
Awareness
There are avalanches in So Cal. This sign is on the road just before Mt. Baldy trailhead
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.
