Observation type - Snowpack
Observer - Allen Giernet
Keep me anonymous if published - no
Location (general area) - Mt. Baldy area i.e. manker flats to the resort/ devils backbone ridge
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd) - 2014/03/02
Time - 7:30am - 3:00pm
Road conditions to area - Clear
Temperature - 36ºF/ 2.2ºC ⇑ 43ºF/ 6.1ºC
Sky - Obscured (fog or base layer prevents view of sky)
Wind speed - Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction - not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect - N/A
Aspect in degrees - see below
Slope angle - see below
Elevation - see below
Snow depth - variable noted below
Boot/ Ski penetration - Ski P .5"/ 1.3cm to 2"/ 5cm
Precipitation - None
Activity, recent avalanches - yes
Brief description - Roller ball activity from the previous day on W to SW slopes
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing - no
Rapid warming - yes
Comment - 
Road clear to Manker Flats… Remember boots when leaving house!

8:00 am sky was overcast at this time but good visibility, was able to see sun on Baldy on drive up through scattered clouds.
Snow fairly solid at about 2"/ 5cm to 4"/ 10cm deep. (due to no boots decided to go up to resort and rent boots to travel and study snow)
About 6500'/ 1980m to 7400'/ 2260m signs of rapid warming from the day before, heavy roller ball activity on W and SW slopes.

11:15am - 12 @ 7800'/ 2380m - 8400'/ 2560m 4"/ 10 cm - 8"/ 20cm heavy wet snow.
Ski P - 1"/2.5cm
Sky obscured due to low clouds very wet cloud condensation
Southern slopes wind scoured especially near ridges/ Northern
slopes signs of wind loading

12:30pm 8000'/ 2440m 7"/ 17cm snow on ridge top.
Ski P - 1"/ 2.5 cm - 2" 5 cm
SW facing slopes some wind scouring
Trees at this time calving large chunks of ice/ snow
Trees were heavily rimed on Southerly sides with ice all over… signs of the warm nature of the storm and lots of water prior to freezing temps.
Visibility 100'/ 30m to 200'/ 60m and very wet conditions due to clouds

1:00 pm 8500'/ 2590m 5"/ 12cm to 6" 15 cm on ridge top.
NW slope wind pillows and signs of loading
visibility 100'/ 30m or less

1:30pm Devils Backbone ridge 8600'/ 2620m
NE slope 52º angle 38º- 40º heavily wind loaded 8"/ 10cm to 2'/ 60cm
SW slope 222º large wind lips at ridge top signs of wind scouring snow depth from a few inches to bare icy ground with pockets of 8"/ 10cm Angle 35º+

The snow was heavy and dense top to bottom no signs of layering and getting close to free water due to rapid warming

3:30pm trees at 6800'/ 2070m that were covered with snow and ice in the morning had dropped almost all the snow from their branches

Publish this observation - Yes I would like this observation Published    

Rimed south facing trees

wind scouring