Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Jason Hurst

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Mt Baldy / West Baldy

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
200190207

Time
2:00pm

Road conditions to area
Clear

Temperature
Near freezing

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
not observed

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
South East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle

Elevation
9500

Snow depth
120cm

Boot/ Ski penetration
Varied

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
Parked at Manker Flats at 10:30am on Thursday, February 7th. No wind, clear skies, and cold temps! 

Used the bootback on the trail to the ski hut, then put on skins to ascend the shoulder. As temps rose at 12:00, a cloud covered the peak for 30 minutes and cooled everything off, then clear skies again. 

At the top of the shoulder, I broke off the trail and summited West Baldy. Probed the Mt Baldy / West Baldy Saddle on SE aspect at 9,500ft. 120cm snow depth.

The descent was firm snow up top, followed by a few cm of soft snow on a hard supportable base. The shoulder of Baldy Bowl held the best snow - boot top powder. The remainder of the descent from the ski hut was completely skiable for an adventurer. Logs/rocks/schrubs were completely covered. 2ft of snow on the fire road at 6,700ft. Skied all the way back to the car!

Magical day...

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

West Baldy Playground