Observation type - Snowpack
Observer - HLudwig (Rime)
Keep me anonymous if published - no
Location (general area) - Throop Peak
Latitude - 34.3555
Longitude - -117,8007
Date (yyyymmdd) - 20150312
Time - 1230
Road conditions to area - Clear (closed at Islip Saddle)
Temperature - 37ºF/4ºC
Sky - few clouds (up to 2/8)
Wind speed - Calm (smoke rises vertically)
Wind direction - N
Slope aspect - North
Aspect in degrees - 23 degrees
Slope angle - 32º
Elevation - 8200'
Snow depth - 82cm
Boot/ Ski penetration - 30cm/13cm
Precipitation - None
Activity, recent avalanches - yes
Brief description - WL on N aspects above 7000'
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing - yes
Rapid warming - yes
Obvious avalanche path - yes
Terrain trap - yes
Comment
Only aspects covered enough to ride are the same ones that avalanched the day before. Hmmm...what to do?
Terrain management! N drainage of Throop was had multiple, recent, natural, wet avys so I went up the less steep, NW drainage.

This was the second warm day after a cool spell.  

Skinable snow from the hwy :-) Unfortunately the road is closed 5 mi in either direction; but they're working on it.

I didn't think I was going to ride—let alone be on the snow at all, due to the natural avys; but once on the snow, I saw zero signs of instability (until I was well on my way down @ 1:45). Sheltered, couloir snow is different from wide, open snow.

I really didn't like the natural activity nor the stratigraphy, but the snow felt consistently right side up, stability tests were encouraging, and I saw no new danger signs once in the couloir.

Publish this observation - Yes I would like this observation Published

Pit profile with test results and comments

Pano of the nat avys on the hwy