Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Tony Bird
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Mt. Pinos summit area
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
2022/3/13
Time
all day
Road conditions to area
Bare
Temperature
upper 40s
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Strong (26-38mph Whole trees in motion)
Wind direction
NE
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
20-45
Elevation
8800
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes
Comment
Mt. Pinos afforded some interesting spring skiing Sunday, with pockets of pristine northside powder up to 4 feet deep. Coverage on the summit ridge is holding at about 80 percent. Southern exposures are bare.
Our tour to the summit and down the NW apron found a firming cover from the storm of a week ago, turning to beginning corn by late afternoon. We had decided to check the big north-facing drainages from the two summit meadows and were pleasantly surprised, and greatly challenged, by the Second Meadow couloir just east of the microwave tower. The snow would change abruptly from crust and windpack to very deep powder. The steeper convexities exhibited some cracking, but they all held.
We skied several hundred yards down this feature and might have skied further but wanted to check the First Meadow drainage, which was similar but not enough good coverage to ski as far.
A windy March day, but probably the best spring skiing possible after this strange snow season. Conditions should hold at least through next weekend.
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)
2022/3/13
Time
all day
Road conditions to area
Bare
Temperature
upper 40s
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Strong (26-38mph Whole trees in motion)
Wind direction
NE
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
20-45
Elevation
8800
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes
Comment
Mt. Pinos afforded some interesting spring skiing Sunday, with pockets of pristine northside powder up to 4 feet deep. Coverage on the summit ridge is holding at about 80 percent. Southern exposures are bare.
Our tour to the summit and down the NW apron found a firming cover from the storm of a week ago, turning to beginning corn by late afternoon. We had decided to check the big north-facing drainages from the two summit meadows and were pleasantly surprised, and greatly challenged, by the Second Meadow couloir just east of the microwave tower. The snow would change abruptly from crust and windpack to very deep powder. The steeper convexities exhibited some cracking, but they all held.
We skied several hundred yards down this feature and might have skied further but wanted to check the First Meadow drainage, which was similar but not enough good coverage to ski as far.
A windy March day, but probably the best spring skiing possible after this strange snow season. Conditions should hold at least through next weekend.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
