Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Kevin Koenig
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Alto Diablo
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
03/19/23
Time
11:00
Road conditions to area
Clear
Temperature
15
Sky
Obscured (fog or base layer prevents view of sky)
Wind speed
Extreme (>38mph gale force or +)
Wind direction
SE
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
27
Elevation
10200
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
Ankle
Precipitation
Medium
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
no
Obvious avalanche path
no
Comment
Toured up the North Face of Alto Diablo Sunday morning 3/19/23 to the false peak at 10,200’.
There was roughly 2-3” of new snow above 9500’
There was a rain/snow mix below 9500 down to about 7000’.
A VERY strong SE Wind was depositing snow on the north west aspects. This was surprising as the forecast had been saying the wind was to be from the west.
North east face was wind scoured. North and North West faces had accumulated deposited snow 6”-1’ deep over a harder layer that seemed to have been rained on or experienced heavy freeze/thaw.
Above 9500’ this harder layer disappears and Boot penetration varies from ankle deep to below the knee.
We did not dig a pit and opted for a low angle retreat out of the wind. We did not see any red flags but remained on low angle and did not venture on western faces which I’d assume were pretty suspect.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
Snowpack
Observer
Kevin Koenig
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Alto Diablo
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
03/19/23
Time
11:00
Road conditions to area
Clear
Temperature
15
Sky
Obscured (fog or base layer prevents view of sky)
Wind speed
Extreme (>38mph gale force or +)
Wind direction
SE
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
27
Elevation
10200
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
Ankle
Precipitation
Medium
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
no
Obvious avalanche path
no
Comment
Toured up the North Face of Alto Diablo Sunday morning 3/19/23 to the false peak at 10,200’.
There was roughly 2-3” of new snow above 9500’
There was a rain/snow mix below 9500 down to about 7000’.
A VERY strong SE Wind was depositing snow on the north west aspects. This was surprising as the forecast had been saying the wind was to be from the west.
North east face was wind scoured. North and North West faces had accumulated deposited snow 6”-1’ deep over a harder layer that seemed to have been rained on or experienced heavy freeze/thaw.
Above 9500’ this harder layer disappears and Boot penetration varies from ankle deep to below the knee.
We did not dig a pit and opted for a low angle retreat out of the wind. We did not see any red flags but remained on low angle and did not venture on western faces which I’d assume were pretty suspect.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
