Observation type - Snowpack
Observer - Hans Ludwig
Keep me anonymous if published - no
Location (general area) - Mt Islip
Date (yyyymmdd) - 01/01/15
Time - 9:30–1:15
Road conditions to area - Clear
Temperature - 32º–15º F (0–-10º C)
Sky - clear (no clouds)
Wind speed - Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction - N
Slope aspect - not observed
Elevation - 7600'
Snow depth - Variable: Ground - Thigh
Boot/ Ski penetration - Variable: none to calf
Precipitation - None
Activity, recent avalanches - No
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, collapsing - no
Rapid warming - no
Obvious avalanche path - yes
Terrain trap - yes
Comment - Small cornices showed snow from the previous storm was blown around from the north.
Highly variable conditions: scoured/loaded, deep/thin, ice/pow all within a few feet.  

Multiple slope tests showed uncohesive blower-pow adhered well to underlying frozen-solid, sun-cupped old snow. If there was no pow on top, it was bulletproof mank; ridable, just not what I *want* to ride.
I dug no pits on account of the variability.

It seemed entirely possible to ride from Islip summit to the road. I just didn't feel like hard, icy snow that day. Once at Little Jimmy, I chose pow laps. Hunting for pockets of pow from left to right at the bottom of the slope(s), I booted up each pocket until it ran out; then I rode said pow to the bottom and hunted for more.

Nice day. Coulda been better. I hear the San Bernardino Range got hit harder than the San Gabs.

Publish this observation - Yes I would like this observation Published

Turns in a pocket of pow