Observation type
Snowpack


Observer
Nicholas Moede


Keep me anonymous if published
no


Location (general area)
San Bernardino Mountains, Little San Gorgonio Peak


Latitude
34.06982


Longitude
-116.88729


Date (yyyymmdd)
20220217


Time
1430


Road conditions to area


Temperature
40 fahrenheit


Sky
clear (no clouds)


Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)


Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees


Slope aspect
North

Aspect in degrees
0

Slope angle
20

Elevation
7500

Snow depth
90cm

Boot/ Ski penetration
35cm

Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
yes

Brief description
Small loose wet avalanches noted on northwest facing sides of canyon

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
yes

Comment
Observed a significant layer of sleet/graupel in the snowpack. Top layer of snow is 5cm of well consolidated new snow. Below this layer there is a layer of 3-4cm of very loose and granular graupel. If this layer does not consolidate it could cause significant problems and become a weak layer in the snowpack if additional snow accumulates on top. The existing top layer released very easily, rolling across the graupel like they were ball bearings. This layer was observed at all elevations above 7,000 feet (turned around at 8,000 feet).

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Loose and granular sleet/graupel lurking under the snowpack