Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Anonymous

Keep me anonymous if published
yes

Location (general area)
San Gorgonio Wilderness, Alto Diablo

Latitude
34.12710

Longitude
-116.86445

Date (yyyymmdd)
20230108

Time
1400

Road conditions to area

Temperature

Sky
Scattered clouds (3/8 to 4/8)

Wind speed
not observed

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle

Elevation
10500

Snow depth
150 cm

Boot/ Ski penetration

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Comment
Riding and skinning up the ridge from South Fork trailhead to Alto Diablo was difficult below ~8500 feet due to only a few inches of snow on top of bushes.

~150cm deep pit. 
Starting from the base, a few inches is ice melt-freeze crust. 
Then ~6 inches of finger hardness. Crust (failure at this layer). 
~4 inches of 4finger+.
Another crust. 
~4 feet of slab ranging from 4finger to fist.
On top of that ~1 inch of stiffer wind affected snow, unknown hardness.

The column test did not fail on compression BUT this may have been due to poor isolation on the back of the column. The slab popped off at the bottom crust when pulling it down.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Picture of snow pit after failure