Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Tony Bird
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Mt. Pinos summit area
Latitude
\
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
2022/2/6
Time
afternoon
Road conditions to area
Bare
Temperature
45-50 F
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
20-40
Elevation
8800
Snow depth
1-2 feet
Boot/ Ski penetration
Precipitation.None
None
Brief description
Comment
Mt. Pinos was a gruelling lesson in snow development for this unusual winter. Despite 50-degree temps and sunshine, it was mostly rough, frozen crust, including a variation of suncups sliced into long, disagreeable shards by the slanting sun. That's what greeted us on the southwest apron of the mountain which had afforded pleasurable corn skiing two weeks ago. I figure the snowpack hasn't compacted enough to keep surface corn.
We found interesting, if challenging, skiing on the northwest apron, and, surprisingly, in the steep forest dropping off to the north by the microwave tower. Tight turns in steep, narrow channels between trees are typical of Pinos, and the snow, though crusty, was even and turnable.
"Backcountry skiers have more words for 'snow' than the Inuit, but they're all swear words."
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
Snowpack
Observer
Tony Bird
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Mt. Pinos summit area
Latitude
\
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
2022/2/6
Time
afternoon
Road conditions to area
Bare
Temperature
45-50 F
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
20-40
Elevation
8800
Snow depth
1-2 feet
Boot/ Ski penetration
Precipitation.None
None
Brief description
Comment
Mt. Pinos was a gruelling lesson in snow development for this unusual winter. Despite 50-degree temps and sunshine, it was mostly rough, frozen crust, including a variation of suncups sliced into long, disagreeable shards by the slanting sun. That's what greeted us on the southwest apron of the mountain which had afforded pleasurable corn skiing two weeks ago. I figure the snowpack hasn't compacted enough to keep surface corn.
We found interesting, if challenging, skiing on the northwest apron, and, surprisingly, in the steep forest dropping off to the north by the microwave tower. Tight turns in steep, narrow channels between trees are typical of Pinos, and the snow, though crusty, was even and turnable.
"Backcountry skiers have more words for 'snow' than the Inuit, but they're all swear words."
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
