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Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Hans
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Mt Waterman
Latitude
34.3449
Longitude
-117.9363
Date (yyyymmdd)
20170129
Time
11:00–16:00
Road conditions to area
Ø
Temperature
40° F (5° C)
Sky
few clouds (up to 2/8)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion) 
Wind direction
N 
Slope aspect
not observed
Aspect in degrees
328 
Slope angle
22 
Elevation
7800'
Snow depth
70 cm (27.5")
Boot/ Ski penetration
PF15/PS5
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes
Rapid warming
yes 
Obvious avalanche path
no
Terrain trap
no 
Comment
SoCalNSP & SCSAC Avy L1 Field day #2
 
A bit warmer today than yesterday. Winds are stronger (light w/ moderate gusts).
What snow had not blown away, had a chance to settle overnight with the slightly warmer temps.
 
We toured from the warming hut, past the top of Chair 2, to the N drainage of Avy Canyon and back. I dug a teaching pit NE of the reservoir.
 
On the tour we observed saltation in gusts, sastrugi, and pillows. Variable snow surface with shooting cracks ( The ridge south of the lift was either sastrugi over rain crust or sticky, melting snow [Let's hope it freezes for the corn harvest]. Whereas earlier in the week, wind had blown snow into Avy canyon (forming cornices); now it was blowing snow away from the canyon, forming sastrugi near the ridge and depositing it on the flatter south face of Waterman.
Farther away from the ridge with the wind, mellow southerly aspects were warming up with boot-pen at ankle and minimal ski pen.
 
The pit site was slightly different than yesterday: NNW aspect, 23° slope, same altitude, HS70 with no less than 5 ice crusts.
* 10 CTN's
* 5 ECTX's
* 1 sore hand
 
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

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