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Snowpack Summary February 5, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 6:52am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Avalanche danger will be low with the possibility of increasing this afternoon. Mostly sunny skies and increasing temperatures will put Loose Wet Avalanches on our problem list as temperatures warm today. Be aware of changing snow conditions as you travel today. Overnight temps below freezing will make for firm icy conditions and slide for life potential in steep terrain. Be aware of your exposure and bring the proper tools (ice axe and crampons) in steep terrain, or stick to lower angel terrain with minimal hazards below you.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 6:52am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Avalanche danger will be low with the possibility of increasing this afternoon. Mostly sunny skies and increasing temperatures will put Loose Wet Avalanches on our problem list as temperatures warm today. Be aware of changing snow conditions as you travel today. Overnight temps below freezing will make for firm icy conditions and slide for life potential in steep terrain. Be aware of your exposure and bring the proper tools (ice axe and crampons) in steep terrain, or stick to lower angel terrain with minimal hazards below you.
If you venture out please submit your observations to the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Problem #1
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
General Summary
We’ve returned to a freeze thaw cycle with increasing afternoon high temperatures. Avalanche danger will begin low today and could increase as the day warms rapidly. Be alert for Loose Wet instability on steep slopes especially lower elevations where snow remains and on Southerly aspects SE, S, SW, W & NW that receive solar input. If you find yourself sinking into soft wet snow several inches it’s time to change your travel plans. Freezing overnight temperatures will start the day with fast firm conditions especially on slopes that have been exposed to the melt freeze conditions E, SE, S, SW, W & NW. Any slopes that have received sun throughout the day each day will have the potential for firm fast conditions. Be sure to bring ice axe and crampons for travel in steep terrain in these conditions or make plans to travel in lower angle terrain with no significant hazards below such as trees, rocks, receding snow and drop offs. This will prevent our biggest problem here in So Cal for rescues and fatalities. Slip and falls in steep terrain with uncontrollable slides for life.
We’ve returned to a freeze thaw cycle with increasing afternoon high temperatures. Avalanche danger will begin low today and could increase as the day warms rapidly. Be alert for Loose Wet instability on steep slopes especially lower elevations where snow remains and on Southerly aspects SE, S, SW, W & NW that receive solar input. If you find yourself sinking into soft wet snow several inches it’s time to change your travel plans. Freezing overnight temperatures will start the day with fast firm conditions especially on slopes that have been exposed to the melt freeze conditions E, SE, S, SW, W & NW. Any slopes that have received sun throughout the day each day will have the potential for firm fast conditions. Be sure to bring ice axe and crampons for travel in steep terrain in these conditions or make plans to travel in lower angle terrain with no significant hazards below such as trees, rocks, receding snow and drop offs. This will prevent our biggest problem here in So Cal for rescues and fatalities. Slip and falls in steep terrain with uncontrollable slides for life.
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General Mountain Weather Forecast |
2-4-22
Friday Well below freezing overnight will start the day with fast firm conditions. Skies will begin partially cloudy and clear this morning to sunny. Temperatures will be warmer today then yesterday. Easterly to Northeasterly winds will be moderate in the morning and decrease slightly through the day.
Saturday will continue with a cold morning and become warmer then the day before with mostly clear skies and light to moderate winds.
Sunday starts clod and quickly warms to well above freezing temperatures with mostly clear skies and light to moderate winds.
The freeze thaw cycle will return this weekend as overnight temperatures will remain below freezing each day into next week while day time highs gradually rise into the middle of next week. Skies will be mostly clear with some light clouds next week. Winds will be light to moderate with periods of gusty winds over the next several days.
Friday Well below freezing overnight will start the day with fast firm conditions. Skies will begin partially cloudy and clear this morning to sunny. Temperatures will be warmer today then yesterday. Easterly to Northeasterly winds will be moderate in the morning and decrease slightly through the day.
Saturday will continue with a cold morning and become warmer then the day before with mostly clear skies and light to moderate winds.
Sunday starts clod and quickly warms to well above freezing temperatures with mostly clear skies and light to moderate winds.
The freeze thaw cycle will return this weekend as overnight temperatures will remain below freezing each day into next week while day time highs gradually rise into the middle of next week. Skies will be mostly clear with some light clouds next week. Winds will be light to moderate with periods of gusty winds over the next several days.
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 - Mt Pinos Summit area Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220201 Comment - The good news is that the snow cover hasn't diminished on Mt. Pinos, but the bad news on Tuesday was a lenticular cloud parked over the summit ridge all day, which kept things crusty everywhere--none of the nice corn and skiable crud of the week before. I tried to find a feature called The Elevator Shaft, a short chute in the forest to the north of the main summit trail. I skied it once several years ago and I hoped for some residual powder, but I couldn't find either The Shaft or any residual powder. Best hope on Pinos is for corn. Sunny days ahead should provide that. Temps ranged from 30 to 50 over a long day tour. Coverage was skiable down to the Pinos-Sawmill saddle, if you like obstacles, which I always find interesting. |
Observation type -
Snowpack Location - San G Upper North Chutes Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220130 Comment - North Chutes up San Gorgonio were fairly consolidated. There was 1 to 2" of new snow above 8500' from the surprise upper level snow storm, 1/29/22. On the upper slopes (above 11,200'), the north wind blew the new snow away already. Final 300 to 400' of the chutes are icy, down to the base layer from the week-long North wind event. Some crowns/ broken cornices/Slab breaks along the entire upper northface of San G. Climbable and skiable with caution on the upper slopes of the north chutes. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Mt. Pinos Summit area Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220125 Comment - If you like variety, head for Mt. Pinos: corn, powder, crud, windpack, suncups, crust. Snow depth on the summit ridge holding at one to two feet. Get much lower on anything but the north aspect and it diminishes rapidly. I toured to the summit and decided to try the southwest slope--best run of the day, about 300 yards of easy-turning corn. The run by the microwave tower was irregular, crusted and fairly unskiable. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Ice House Cyn. & Big Horn Peak Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220123 Comment Trail alternates frequently between slippery ice patches and bare trail starting about half way to the saddle. Traction devices are required about 3/4 up. Lots of debris fields at the bottom of the canyon from avalanches, but these are old and are primarily on the south-facing slopes, where there is no longer enough snow mass to trigger a slide. Some fractures caused by skiers on north slopes. 2-3 feet of well-consolidated snow between the saddle and Bighorn Peak. 6" of penetration in most areas with sparse patches of hard ice in the more exposed and sun-facing slopes. No evidence of avalanches above the saddle. I did not hike Timber, but my visual observations and reports from other hikers indicates that the trail switches frequently between compacted snow, hard ice, and bare trail. |
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.
