Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Tony Bird

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Mt. Pinos

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20190222

Time
10am-2pm

Road conditions to area
Well plowed but closed at the Y.

Temperature
25-30F

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)

Wind direction
N

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
30

Elevation

Snow depth
14 inches fresh to hard crust


Boot/ Ski penetration
4 inches

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Comment
Pinos got fresh overnight powder, about 8 inches at bottom, reportedly 2 feet at top.

First snowgate was closed. Kern Road Dept. reportedly plowing for an opening, but did not open by 2 pm after we returned from skiing Signature Bowl, the east-facing bowl at the east end of Pinos ridge.

Last storm left a bombproof rain crust under the recent powder. Dug a pit at around 7,000 feet--14 inches of powder on top of the crust. Skiing Signature Bowl showed no instability.

A word about road conditions on Pinos. The Kern County Road Dept. has a webpage about closures. Cuddy Valley Road is the one which goes to the top. Their reporting may be a little late, especially when conditions are changing. If you drive up to a snow gate that was supposed to be open, it doesn't hurt to tell them--they try to keep up with it.

http://roads.kerndsa.com/road-status-closures

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

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