Punta Bardini

Posted April 28th, 2010 by joshf

Location

United States
37° 36' 20.1456" N, 118° 57' 55.4796" W
Date and time of observation: 
April 28, 2010 - 10:30am
Region: 
Mammoth Area
Observation Type: 
Snowpack
Route: 

Standard route from sherwin creek rd to summit, down both main chutes and old growth to skier left telebowl.

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
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
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: 

Strongest winds encountererd were across flats at low elevations.  Light winds throughout most terrain, with moderate winds at ridgetop. 

Comments: 

3-4" of dense new snow ontop of mostly softened styrofoam feeling old snow surface.  Bonding seems good within new snow and between new and old snow surface.  No signs of instability encountered.  Below 9000' old snow is moist to atleast 1 ft down.  This must be due to the cloud cover re-radiating heat back into the snowpack and keeping it from freezing ... doesn't appear that re-freeze occured last night below 9000'.  Where the winds are strongest, the surface is remaining harder, but still not solid ice.  No new snow deposits encountered greater than 5" or so, except on the sherwin creek rd where some 1.5' drifts were encountered on drive out.  The lack of re-freeze at lower elevations would be considered a concern if it were sunny and warmer, but given that snow is falling and temperatures are dropping (expecting single digits tonight), it isn't likely that this will become a concern until the snows are over and temperatures rise again.  Suprisingly excellent skiing in the chutes.  Telebowls had almost a firm slush layer under new snow, fun big turn skiing ... be nice if snowmo tracks weren't underlying there, but even those were somewhat soft.     

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