Observation type- Snowpack
Observer- Allen Giernet
Keep me anonymous if published- no
Location (general area)- Mt. Baldy, Baldy Bowl
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)- 2013/01/20
Time- 10:45am - 1:00pm
Road conditions to area- clear
Temperature- 52° F at trail head/ parking
Sky- clear (no clouds)
Wind speed- Calm (smoke rises vertically)
Wind direction- not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect- not observed
Aspect in degrees- Parking area
Slope angle
Elevation- 6000'
Snow depth- Mostly melted out just patches
Boot/ Ski penetration
Precipitation- None
Activity, recent avalanches- No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing- no
Rapid warming- yes
Obvious avalanche path- yes
Terrain trap- yes
Comment- Completely melted out at this elevation since my last visit. The NW chutes above manker flats mostly melted out to top.

Snow stats about 8000' and still patchy mostly holding in Northern and shaded areas.

Baldy Bowl holding snow on NW aspect.BP about 4"

Depth variable from 3" to 30" in some areas mostly thin. about noon here with light wind. Top of bowl at 1pm snow softening with some icy areas on the way up. Not solid for step kicking in upper bowl at this time of day.

Mostly thin snow on scree and talus and becoming unstable.

Deeper snow areas had a very hard crust about 8" below softening snow. below the crust was that faceted layer we had seen before very large crystals and appear to be rounding but no cohesion at all.

Ice axe and crampons necessary to climb bowl and snow becoming loose and soft in afternoon.
Publish this observation- Yes I would like this observation Published

Southerly aspect Baldy Bowl

Upper elevation Northerly aspects near MT. Baldy