Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Anonymous
Keep me anonymous if published
yes
Location (general area)
San Gorgonio - Fish Creek
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
20191229
Time
1130
Road conditions to area
Hwy 38 open; Forest roads gated shut
Temperature
35-40
Sky
few clouds (up to 2/8)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
Elevation
8500
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
30”/5”
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Wet slabs building
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
yes
Obvious avalanche path
no
Terrain trap
no
Comment
15-30” of fresh snow from latest storm. Very warm in Gorgonio wilderness area today, even shaded northerly aspects began to wet out. The fine powder snow deposited previously did not have a chance to melt before this storm moved in, so there should not be any layering. Wet slabs about 2-3” deep began to break off on our low-angle, northern slope descent.
Higher elevation northerly couloirs with poor anchoring and avalanching slope angles should probably be avoided for a few days until the snowpack consolidates.
South facing slopes were crusting hard and melting rapidly as we left the area around 2pm.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
Snowpack
Observer
Anonymous
Keep me anonymous if published
yes
Location (general area)
San Gorgonio - Fish Creek
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
20191229
Time
1130
Road conditions to area
Hwy 38 open; Forest roads gated shut
Temperature
35-40
Sky
few clouds (up to 2/8)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
Elevation
8500
Snow depth
Boot/ Ski penetration
30”/5”
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Wet slabs building
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
yes
Obvious avalanche path
no
Terrain trap
no
Comment
15-30” of fresh snow from latest storm. Very warm in Gorgonio wilderness area today, even shaded northerly aspects began to wet out. The fine powder snow deposited previously did not have a chance to melt before this storm moved in, so there should not be any layering. Wet slabs about 2-3” deep began to break off on our low-angle, northern slope descent.
Higher elevation northerly couloirs with poor anchoring and avalanching slope angles should probably be avoided for a few days until the snowpack consolidates.
South facing slopes were crusting hard and melting rapidly as we left the area around 2pm.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
