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Snowpack Summary March 12, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:22am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Normal avalanche caution today. Expect variable conditions from firm and icy in isolated areas to consolidated powder in sheltered areas. Conditions will run the full range. Keep a mind on low tide early season snowpack conditions at lower elevations.
Remember to share your observations with us at the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:22am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Normal avalanche caution today. Expect variable conditions from firm and icy in isolated areas to consolidated powder in sheltered areas. Conditions will run the full range. Keep a mind on low tide early season snowpack conditions at lower elevations.
Remember to share your observations with us at the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
General Summary
Benign weather has followed our most recent storms. Normal avalanche caution showed be practiced as avalanche danger is relatively low at this time. Following advisory level winds there may be small isolated Wind Slabs that could sensitive to human triggering in steep terrain. Variable conditions with consolidated powder in sheltered locations to icy and firm conditions and anything in between will be possible. Also be aware of thin coverage at lower elevations with an early season low tide snowpack possible in areas. The week ahead is forecasted to have mild weather with warming conditions. Expect minor changes day to day with Loose wet instability creeping into the problem list when overnight temperatures remain above freezing and afternoon highs creep up.
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.
Benign weather has followed our most recent storms. Normal avalanche caution showed be practiced as avalanche danger is relatively low at this time. Following advisory level winds there may be small isolated Wind Slabs that could sensitive to human triggering in steep terrain. Variable conditions with consolidated powder in sheltered locations to icy and firm conditions and anything in between will be possible. Also be aware of thin coverage at lower elevations with an early season low tide snowpack possible in areas. The week ahead is forecasted to have mild weather with warming conditions. Expect minor changes day to day with Loose wet instability creeping into the problem list when overnight temperatures remain above freezing and afternoon highs creep up.
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 |
3-12-22
Saturday - Warmer both overnight and today with light to moderate North winds becoming West this afternoon. Skies will be mostly clear to sunny.
Sunday - Warmer sunny weather for the day with light to moderate winds
Warming continues into the week with minor day to day fluctuations through the end of the week.
Saturday - Warmer both overnight and today with light to moderate North winds becoming West this afternoon. Skies will be mostly clear to sunny.
Sunday - Warmer sunny weather for the day with light to moderate winds
Warming continues into the week with minor day to day fluctuations through the end of the 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 Wilderness/ Jepson Peak Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220306 Comment - Beautiful day in the San G wilderness on Sunday March 6, clear and cold with low winds (25 degree forecasted temps at 11,000). Bear Mountain resort claimed 15" storm total over Thursday-Saturday and it seemed like the wilderness had about that amount in some protected, high elevation spots (Charlton). Most of the area above 8,000ft got about 8-12" I'd guess. Once above South Fork meadows, the snowpack ranged from 125cm at 8,500ft (north aspect) to about 150cm at 11,000ft (Jepson north chutes). Surface conditions were soft and powdery with minimal wind effect, even in the most wind prone areas like San Gorgonio's north face (That probably changed after Monday's winds though). Skied a few laps on Jepson and then headed over to Charlton, both exceptionally good. |
Observation type -
Snowpack Location - Mt. Waterman Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220306 Comment - Mt. Waterman got a bit of fresh snow from the Friday/Saturday storm, enough to offer fairly pleasant skiing on a firming powder surface of up to five inches on top of a packed season's crust. Coverage was strictly on the north side of the mountain, the main resort run and the forest on either side. It rapidly diminished to bare ground on other aspects. Little to no snow at lower elevations on the drive up. We were afraid of drawing a blank, but were pleasantly surprised. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Mt Pinos Summit Date (yyyymmdd) - 2022027 Comment Snow from last week's storm was surprisingly skiable on Mt. Pinos on Sunday. A quick check in the north-facing forest near the parking area disclosed lingering powder about five inches deep, and that was common throughout my tour to the summit and down the northwest apron. The meadows had some disagreeable frozen suncups, but it wasn't hard to maneuver around them. The powder became mashed potatoes in places, but they were firm potatoes that responded well to my powder skis. All in all much better snow than two weeks ago |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Jean Peak San Jacinto Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220226 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). |
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.
