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Snowpack Summary February 26, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 8:55pm (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
With advisory level winds through this afternoon and the recent snow small isolated wind slabs may be possible for Sunday on South to Southwest aspects at upper elevations where any existing snow remained. Low overnight temperatures will present fast firm conditions in wind effected and sun exposed areas. Exercise general avalanche caution with a mind on variable surfaces and low tide conditions.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 8:55pm (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
With advisory level winds through this afternoon and the recent snow small isolated wind slabs may be possible for Sunday on South to Southwest aspects at upper elevations where any existing snow remained. Low overnight temperatures will present fast firm conditions in wind effected and sun exposed areas. Exercise general avalanche caution with a mind on variable surfaces and low tide conditions.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
General Summary
Advisory level winds and transportable snow from the recent storm will make small isolated winds slabs possible. Look for the signs of wind transported snow below ridges and on sides of gullies such as scouring, wind sculpting and pillowed snow before committing to steep or complicated terrain with hazards below. Recent slabs will be found on South to Southeast aspects but will be possible on any aspect due to topographical influence. Fast firm conditions in the morning and at higher elevations will be possible due to well below freezing overnight temperatures, mainly on recently sun exposed slopes, wind scoured areas and heavily traveled slopes such as Devils Backbone. Be aware of changing conditions and turn back if not properly equipped to prevent slide for life scenarios in steep terrain. Sunday will be a much warmer day and wet snow instability could develop in the afternoon on sun effected slopes and at lower elevations as temperatures rise. This will become more likely as temperatures climb into next week. Look for signs of wet snow such as roller balls especially from rock outcroppings, sinking deeper into the snow and heavy moisture saturated snow. If you see these signs move out of steep terrain or onto shaded and sheltered slopes. be prepared for variable surface conditions and changing snow conditions as you travel
Exercise caution on slopes over 30° as these conditions will exist throughout all mountain ranges. Always exercise caution when entering into winter mountain areas. Bring a Beacon Shovel and Probe and know how to use them. Travel with a partner and make conservative decisions.
Advisory level winds and transportable snow from the recent storm will make small isolated winds slabs possible. Look for the signs of wind transported snow below ridges and on sides of gullies such as scouring, wind sculpting and pillowed snow before committing to steep or complicated terrain with hazards below. Recent slabs will be found on South to Southeast aspects but will be possible on any aspect due to topographical influence. Fast firm conditions in the morning and at higher elevations will be possible due to well below freezing overnight temperatures, mainly on recently sun exposed slopes, wind scoured areas and heavily traveled slopes such as Devils Backbone. Be aware of changing conditions and turn back if not properly equipped to prevent slide for life scenarios in steep terrain. Sunday will be a much warmer day and wet snow instability could develop in the afternoon on sun effected slopes and at lower elevations as temperatures rise. This will become more likely as temperatures climb into next week. Look for signs of wet snow such as roller balls especially from rock outcroppings, sinking deeper into the snow and heavy moisture saturated snow. If you see these signs move out of steep terrain or onto shaded and sheltered slopes. be prepared for variable surface conditions and changing snow conditions as you travel
Exercise caution on slopes over 30° as these conditions will exist throughout all mountain ranges. Always exercise caution when entering into winter mountain areas. Bring a Beacon Shovel and Probe and know how to use them. Travel with a partner and make conservative decisions.
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General Mountain Weather Forecast |
2-26-22
Saturday - Another cold clear night leading into a warmer day. Skies will be mostly clear to sunny with moderate North to Northwest winds that will be gust at times - There will be a Wind Advisory until 4:00pm Today.
Sunday - Warming continues with mostly clear skies warmer afternoon highs and light to moderate winds.
Minor warming will continue through the weekend with temperatures reaching near to above seasonal averages next week. All this will happen under mostly clear to sunny skies and moderate to light winds with gusty periods this weekend. A cooling trend will return for the latter half of next week.
Saturday - Another cold clear night leading into a warmer day. Skies will be mostly clear to sunny with moderate North to Northwest winds that will be gust at times - There will be a Wind Advisory until 4:00pm Today.
Sunday - Warming continues with mostly clear skies warmer afternoon highs and light to moderate winds.
Minor warming will continue through the weekend with temperatures reaching near to above seasonal averages next week. All this will happen under mostly clear to sunny skies and moderate to light winds with gusty periods this weekend. A cooling trend will return for the latter half of next week.
Click here for this Season's Snow Pack Summaries
To better understand the challenges and potential variability over the large area we are producing information for please read our Snowpack Summary - Format and Limitations
Disclaimer:
This Bulletin is designed to generally describe conditions where local variations always occur. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and make slope specific evaluations. As always, please treat this bulletin with appropriately guarded skepticism and make your own assessments. Help to provide more information to the community by reporting your observations
This Bulletin is designed to generally describe conditions where local variations always occur. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and make slope specific evaluations. As always, please treat this bulletin with appropriately guarded skepticism and make your own assessments. Help to provide more information to the community by reporting your observations
Click on the links below for the latest information
Latest Observtions
Click on the observation to go to the full report
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Observation type -
Snowpack Location - San G Big Daw Chutes Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220219 Comment - Terrible conditions this weekend. Snow was mashed potatoes as soon as the sun rose up. It was a mix of powdery new snow from Tuesday's storm in the shade, and Spring slush in the sun. Under the slush/powder was a hard sheet of compacted snow/ice. About 6" of new snow above 9000'. Ridges and chutes were in decent shape, but were wind-scoured in places. Upper Big Draw was hard ice, and lower was powder/slush. 7 days of heat, and the an cold storm last week made for sketchy conditions all around. Signs or wet loose avalanches in steep sun-exposed gullies. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - San G Wilderness Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220219 Comment With intentions to scout the snow and hopefully ski Charlton, we hiked the south fork trail from Jenks Lake Road. The first section of the south fork trail was completely destroyed from mud slides and tree falls. This delayed us significantly so we ended up just hiking to Poopout Hill. From Poopout hill the snow pack on San Gorgonio and Alta Diablo looked low tide and barely rideable. We were never able to transition from booting to skinning because of the lack of snow but we only climbed to 7800ft. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Little San G San Bernardino Mtns. Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220217 Comment - Observed a significant layer of sleet/graupel in the snowpack. Top layer of snow is 5cm of well consolidated new snow. Below this layer there is a layer of 3-4cm of very loose and granular graupel. If this layer does not consolidate it could cause significant problems and become a weak layer in the snowpack if additional snow accumulates on top. The existing top layer released very easily, rolling across the graupel like they were ball bearings. This layer was observed at all elevations above 7,000 feet (turned around at 8,000 feet). |
Observation type
Avalanche Location - Mt. Baden Powel Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220213 Comment - On Sunday around 10:00 a.m. I hiked up the mountain baden-powell trail with my dog with the intent to snowboard down the path of the trail. Before arriving at the trailhead, I snapped a picture of a previous very large avalanche that had run down the gully to the east of the hiking trail. This slide looks like it had been there for a while. I then hiked up to the point where my map shows that I turned around because my dog slid out on the ice after I had observed the crown of a previous avalanche above and a wind slab across the trail that had been tracked in. I have photos of this avalanche, but I'm only able to upload one photo. I then went back along the same path and proceeded to transition into my snowboard. While transitioning, my snowboard slid out and kept sliding down the slope. I went after it, and slid out until I was able to self arrest on a tree and catch my dog behind me. Looking downhill, directly to the right of me between me and the trail was another avalanche that seemed relatively new that I do not believe I caused. While proceeding uphill to safer terrain, I observed rollerballing and boot penetration. These conditions exist very close to the Mount Baden Powell trail and could take out an unsuspecting victim at any time. Be safe out there! |
General Caution
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.
You should always use safe terrain management and carry avalanche rescue equipment in the backcountry. Most avalanches are triggered by someone in the party or the victim. Practice with your rescue gear often and be prepared should the worst happen. Though we do not have an avalanche forecast center in this area as of yet, the information posted and shared here as well as the resources available on this site will help to make informed decisions for your backcountry travels. Use avalanche forecasts in your travels wherever available and be aware that avalanche ratings are general information. Elevation, location, geographic variability’s, slope aspect and angle all have effects on the particular area you travel in. This is only one piece of the information you should use in your decision making process. There is no substitute for avalanche education, for more resources and information as well as education please refer to our resources page.
