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Snowpack Summary March 26, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:22am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Low avalanche danger today. Our concerns will be diminishing snow at lower elevations and the potential for loose wet avalanches developing on steep slopes as the day warms significantly. Be aware of what’s below you and near surface or exposed obstacles due to diminishing snow. Start your day early and finish early before temps warm significantly.
Please 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 –
Low avalanche danger today. Our concerns will be diminishing snow at lower elevations and the potential for loose wet avalanches developing on steep slopes as the day warms significantly. Be aware of what’s below you and near surface or exposed obstacles due to diminishing snow. Start your day early and finish early before temps warm significantly.
Please share your observations with us at the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
General Summary
No overnight freezing and high day time temps will bring the chance of loose wet snow instability each day as the day warms. Watch for the signs of wet snow instability as you travel, sinking into boot top depth and roller balls or pinwheels, especially in steep terrain with exposed hazards below you. Thin coverage at lower elevations will present it’s own challenges and hazards. With high temps expect diminishing snow and near surface or exposed obstacles. Watch the weather forecast as there is a significant storm forecast for the beginning of the week. If this materializes as forecasted avalanche danger will increase. For now it’s late spring like conditions. Get out early and get off the mountain early.
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.
No overnight freezing and high day time temps will bring the chance of loose wet snow instability each day as the day warms. Watch for the signs of wet snow instability as you travel, sinking into boot top depth and roller balls or pinwheels, especially in steep terrain with exposed hazards below you. Thin coverage at lower elevations will present it’s own challenges and hazards. With high temps expect diminishing snow and near surface or exposed obstacles. Watch the weather forecast as there is a significant storm forecast for the beginning of the week. If this materializes as forecasted avalanche danger will increase. For now it’s late spring like conditions. Get out early and get off the mountain early.
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 |
3-26-22
Saturday - Slightly cooler today with scattered clouds to mostly clear skies and light Southerly winds becoming moderate through the day.
Sunday - Much cooler with partially cloudy to mostly clear skies becoming overcast overnight. Southerly winds will be moderate to gusty at times with a chance of snow developing late Sunday night becoming likely snow Monday early morning.
Monday - Likely snow becomes definite snow with snow levels forecast between 7,000' & 6,000' forecast amounts near 8,000' range from 4" in the southern mountains to as much as 18" in northern SanGabriel range by early Tuesday morning.
Warm temperatures will give way late Sunday to a winter like storm through Monday into Tuesday morning. The rest of the week will see warming and dryer conditions return.
Saturday - Slightly cooler today with scattered clouds to mostly clear skies and light Southerly winds becoming moderate through the day.
Sunday - Much cooler with partially cloudy to mostly clear skies becoming overcast overnight. Southerly winds will be moderate to gusty at times with a chance of snow developing late Sunday night becoming likely snow Monday early morning.
Monday - Likely snow becomes definite snow with snow levels forecast between 7,000' & 6,000' forecast amounts near 8,000' range from 4" in the southern mountains to as much as 18" in northern SanGabriel range by early Tuesday morning.
Warm temperatures will give way late Sunday to a winter like storm through Monday into Tuesday morning. The rest of the week will see warming and dryer conditions return.
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 North Chutes Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220316 Comment - Climbed the westerly of the San Gorgonio North Chutes and skied down. Conditions were fast and firm with icy patches and isolated small pockets of soft wind blown snow. Recent wind has scoured the face and made for treacherous conditions on steep slopes. Sastrugi and wind affected snow in most open north facing aspects. Spring like corn conditions in trees below 9,500 feet in the afternoon. Any travel above 9,500 feet should be left to expert alpine mountaineers. Slide for life conditions are present. Skiing is not recommend at higher elevations and steeper terrain. |
Observation type -
Snowpack Location - Mt. Baden Powell Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220311 Comment - Friday afternoon left the car at 1415 and made the false summit just over two hours later. Crampon boot pack most of the way with some minor postholing above 8k. Skied down ridge directly off false summit and progressed slightly westward through trees until about halfway down where we entered the first couloir west of the parking lot with lots of coverage down to the road. Top of the mountain was slightly variable but overall enjoyable skiing with areas of very nice sugary powder. The last half of the descent coming out of the trees was 40 degree slide for life conditions with just enough texture and give to hold an edge until the last few hundred feet. That was after it had been shaded, so next time will hit it earlier in the day. Conditions favored upper trees, with open slopes having areas of wind loading mixed with firm conditions. Wind loaded areas were dust on crust. Did not see any signs of potential for significant avalanches, but the hazards of sluffing dust on crust, sheets of ice, rockfall in couloir areas and fatal slides are real. Would recommend skins and crampons for the way up and to ski with an axe on the way down. There is still plenty of snow in the north gullies that should be in for weeks to come. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Mt Pinos Summit Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220313 Comment Mt. Pinos afforded some interesting spring skiing Sunday, with pockets of pristine northside powder up to 4 feet deep. Coverage on the summit ridge is holding at about 80 percent. Southern exposures are bare. Our tour to the summit and down the NW apron found a firming cover from the storm of a week ago, turning to beginning corn by late afternoon. We had decided to check the big north-facing drainages from the two summit meadows and were pleasantly surprised, and greatly challenged, by the Second Meadow couloir just east of the microwave tower. The snow would change abruptly from crust and windpack to very deep powder. The steeper convexities exhibited some cracking, but they all held. We skied several hundred yards down this feature and might have skied further but wanted to check the First Meadow drainage, which was similar but not enough good coverage to ski as far. A windy March day, but probably the best spring skiing possible after this strange snow season. Conditions should hold at least through next weekend. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - North Side of Devils Backbone Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220313 Comment - Generally a light crust about 1 to 4 in thick. Deep graupel below, moving through was least thigh deep. On the return the trench left was only 4 in deep as it filled back up. Very odd and challenging. Some concerning rock fall in the chutes as well. Mostly small but several basket ball side rocks as well. |
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.
