Observation type
Snowpack
 
 
Observer
Hans Ludwig
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Near Winston Springs (above 6000 ft gat on ACH)
Latitude
34.3444
Longitude
-117.954
Date (yyyymmdd)
20170124
Time
15:00
Road conditions to area
Clear
Temperature
-5° C (23° F)
Sky
Broken clouds (4/8 but not all)
Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)
Wind direction
not observed  
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
354
Slope angle
27
Elevation
7200 ft
Snow depth
92 cm 
Boot/ Ski penetration
PF31/PS18
Precipitation
None 
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
no
Obvious avalanche path
yes
Terrain trap
yes

Comment
Bluebird morning the day after a small storm— 28° F (-2° C) at 09:00. ≈ 10 cm of sooper light needles and graupel with a beautiful layer of surface hoar atop.
Despite what the website says, the road was closed at the 6000 ft gate (at the end of the long straightaway, before Winston Canyon)
We toured south from the 6000 ft gate, up to the western shoulder of Waterman, along the tops of Winston and Avy Canyons (from 6300'–7900') and back.
Pole probe tests indicated an upside-down snowpack at 6400'.
Between 6400' and 7400' W aspects had a thin breakable crust while N aspects were STACKED! NW aspects were 'dust on crust' & difficult to gain a good footing down around 6400' but by 6600' it was blower pow. This implied wind blew from the west over the ridge into Winston Spring.
No rime in trees until 7580' atop the western ridge of Waterman (above Winston Spring) where wind blew from the south. We observed small cornices into Winston. Waterman's western ridge was thinner and showed signs of scouring. W & S aspects had rounded up (•) nicely and flatter slopes above 7500' had radiation recrystallization.
Multiple test slopes and switchback tests produced no results.
*************
Still 24 hours after the storm, we decided to take it easy and avoid that super sweet looking N aspect (that and CalTrans had plowed the hwy, meaning we'd have to walk back to the car—as opposed to ski back).
Good thing b/c even though we saw almost zero signs of instability, we didn't like the upside down snowpack and the proximity to the storm/wind.
*************
STM@70 Q2 (on facets)
STH@28 Q3
CTM18@GRND Q2
CTM22@26 Q2 (on crust)
ECTX (There was a pine shrubbery in the column, skewing the results)

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Pit Profile Winston Springs area