Red Cone Bowl

Posted March 10th, 2010 by joshf

Location

United States
37° 35' 43.9152" N, 119° 1' 35.7888" W
Date and time of observation: 
March 9, 2010 - 2:30pm
Region: 
Mammoth Area
Observation Type: 
Snowpack
Route: 

End of Old Mammoth Rd, up to Lake George via tamarack x-country ski trails, up to high point above Red Cone Bowl.  2 laps down west face, then back up and down to Lake George.

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Precipitation: 
Snow
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Began with calm winds, partly sunny skies.  Up high moderate SW winds, clouds rolled in and very light snowfall.

Snowpack & Snowpit Observations
Information about the snowpack/snowpit: 

In search of areas of sensitive recent wind-load - found none.
Dug 2 pits in Red Cone Bowl:
1)  West face 20 feet below ridge, 35 degree slope 
     Total depth = 150cm
     150-140=fist
     140-139=1finger
     139-125=4finger
     125-60 =pencil (total depth dug)
     CTX (no results)
2)  North face 25 feet below ridge, 38 degree slope
     Total depth=215cm
     CT23Q2 38cm below surface
     ECTN24 (no propogation)
Dropped a couple small cornices down North face-no results.  Hard stomps/ski cuts just below ridge-no results.  North face appeared much more wind affected.  Skied West face (2 laps)-no results. 
Cross slope winds on west face, filling in skin track almost completely in 15 minutes.  Good smooth boot-top powder skiing. Skied back down to Lake George, no signs of instabilities, also good skiing.

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