|
Your Support Helps
|
|
Snowpack Summary April 2, 2022
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:09am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Variable conditions with thin snow cover at lower elevations will be the biggest concerns today. Be prepared for firm and icy to consolidated fresh snow and everything in between. From Mondays storm there will be a possibility of small lingering windslabs below ridges and in gullies. Not likely to bury you but still able to knock you off your feet with serious consequences especially in steep exposed terrain. As the day warms loose wet instability will become a concern especially on sun exposed aspects.
Please share your observations with us at the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Posted by Allen Giernet @ 7:09am (this summary expires in 24 hours)
This summary applies to backcountry areas only.
The Bottom Line –
Variable conditions with thin snow cover at lower elevations will be the biggest concerns today. Be prepared for firm and icy to consolidated fresh snow and everything in between. From Mondays storm there will be a possibility of small lingering windslabs below ridges and in gullies. Not likely to bury you but still able to knock you off your feet with serious consequences especially in steep exposed terrain. As the day warms loose wet instability will become a concern especially on sun exposed aspects.
Please share your observations with us at the avalanche center Submit Reports page.
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
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
Variable conditions along with diminishing snow cover will present their own hazards today. Fast and firm conditions will be possible mixed with soft consolidating powder depending on aspect and elevation. Bring the proper tools and be prepared for the gamut of conditions. Fast receding snow in many places even at the higher elevations will present early season hazards with exposed or near surface obstacles and challenging travel. There will be a possibility of lingering wind slabs below ridges and on sides of gullies from Mondays storm system. Snow amounts were reported around 5” to 6” even at the upper elevations with mostly poor bonding to the firm old snow surface. Things will have settled over the past few days but sheltered slabs could still be sensitive to human triggering and have the potential to take you for a nasty ride in steep exposed terrain. Watch for the sings of wind drifted snow, hard firm hollow surfaces, wind pillowing and wind scouring. With warm afternoon highs for the past two days and forecast again for today the chance of wet loose avalanches developing on sun exposed aspects is possible. Watch for the signs of rapidly warming snow, pinwheels and roller balls and firm surfaces becoming soft and sinking to boot top depth. As you travel be aware of the exposure below you and changing surfaces as well as changing conditions. Start your day early and finish early to avoid wet snow instability but be prepared for firm conditions in the morning and in sheltered areas all day.
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.
Variable conditions along with diminishing snow cover will present their own hazards today. Fast and firm conditions will be possible mixed with soft consolidating powder depending on aspect and elevation. Bring the proper tools and be prepared for the gamut of conditions. Fast receding snow in many places even at the higher elevations will present early season hazards with exposed or near surface obstacles and challenging travel. There will be a possibility of lingering wind slabs below ridges and on sides of gullies from Mondays storm system. Snow amounts were reported around 5” to 6” even at the upper elevations with mostly poor bonding to the firm old snow surface. Things will have settled over the past few days but sheltered slabs could still be sensitive to human triggering and have the potential to take you for a nasty ride in steep exposed terrain. Watch for the sings of wind drifted snow, hard firm hollow surfaces, wind pillowing and wind scouring. With warm afternoon highs for the past two days and forecast again for today the chance of wet loose avalanches developing on sun exposed aspects is possible. Watch for the signs of rapidly warming snow, pinwheels and roller balls and firm surfaces becoming soft and sinking to boot top depth. As you travel be aware of the exposure below you and changing surfaces as well as changing conditions. Start your day early and finish early to avoid wet snow instability but be prepared for firm conditions in the morning and in sheltered areas all day.
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.
|
General Mountain Weather Forecast |
4-2-22
Saturday - Temperatures will be the same as Friday with clear skies becoming cloudy this evening and light Southerly winds
Sunday - Will be begin partially cloudy with skies clearing through the day. Temperatures will be a little cooler with light winds becoming moderate to strong overnight into Monday.
Next week will see warming begin Monday with much warmer temperatures and highs reaching above seasonal average by mid week.
Saturday - Temperatures will be the same as Friday with clear skies becoming cloudy this evening and light Southerly winds
Sunday - Will be begin partially cloudy with skies clearing through the day. Temperatures will be a little cooler with light winds becoming moderate to strong overnight into Monday.
Next week will see warming begin Monday with much warmer temperatures and highs reaching above seasonal average by mid 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
|
Observation type
Avalanche Location - Wanat Peak, Yucaipa Ridge Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220330 Comment Wet slab avalanche observed on north aspect at lower elevation. Crown was only 6cm but bed surface measured approximately 200 feet long and 30 feet wide resulting in a significant amount of snow in the debris field. Debris field measured 150cm at its deepest point. Snowpack in this area consists of 5-6cm of wet heavy snow on top of a very firm crust. Top layer was very susceptible to movement on slopes exceeding 30 degrees and was able to trigger multiple small fast moving slabs on slopes exceeding 35 degrees that ran out down the entire slope. Slabs observed could easily knock a person down and on large exposed slopes there is the potential for burial. Additionally pinwheels and small wet loose avalanches observed in areas of solar warming. Rockfall presents an additional hazard. Observed and heard lots of rockfall activity due to warming including boulders exceeding the size of a basketball. |
Observation type
Snowpack Location - Mt. Pinos Summit Date (yyyymmdd) - 20220322 Comment - Mt. Pinos had some benefit from last weekend's brief storm, including enough coverage in the forest to skin directly up-ridge from the parking area. I had the mountain to myself on Tuesday, apart from a coyote which dropped into the Second Meadow drainage just ahead of me and criss-crossed it like a happy hunting ground. Paw pen for the coyote was about an inch, and it leaped across gullies I had to traverse carefully on ski. Boot pen got to be more than a foot, after which I went to skins. This drainage is enticing, and I determined to explore it further, but encountered only a dense growth of huge white fir and attendant deadfall. Snow depth up to five feet. Three more feet might make it skiable. You keep seeing white patches below, but they don't continue very far. Best run of the day was off the microwave tower summit down this drainage to its first "platform". The second platform is reached with steeper skiing, and beyond that, fergeddaboutit. Pleasant spring day, however, and corn conditions in most places. |
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. |
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.
