Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

Toured from Convict Lake up Tobacco Flat to Mono Jim Peak via Old Man Bowl. 1 isolated whumph skiing up moraine in shallow snow.

• Morning started with high humidity and breaking cloud cover. Trace amount of new snow (stellars) comprised surface forms and made for some extra slippery skinning at times.
• Tobacco Flat had quite a bit of wind effect, with a thin 2cm wind crust that was mostly easy and pleasant to ski through.
• Large avalanche debris piles at the base of the 2 main E face paths on Mono Jim Peak, the upper path running well up the other side of the gully (see photo)
• Some debris visible below the N face of Black Mtn/Peak 11108′, but mostly covered and no discernible crown lines.
• Moderate N winds transporting snow along ridge lines in upper elevations, our skin track was getting refilled in between laps.
• Dug in on an E face at 10550′, HS 150cm/Boot Pen 40cm/Ski Pen 15cm, found 45cm of well developed basal facets. ECTP result down 105cm on FCs, though very rough and uneven shear plane. Compression Test results down 35cm in a mid storm density change, no sudden or clean failures.
• Morrison Col does not have a cornice, and did not seem to have avalanched yet, though adjacent slopes below Morrison had numerous small crowns.
• Overall a very enjoyable day skiing a classic run on a beautiful day, though ski quality in the exposed alpine bowl was stiffer and less soft than sheltered trees will likely provide.