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Observation Date:
December 15, 2021
Submitted:
December 15, 2021
Zone or Region:
Mammoth Lakes
Activity:
Location:
Mammoth Rock Bowl
Did you observe any avalanches?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
9800
Aspect:
N
Comments:
HS-N-D2-R3. Slab depth 1-3’, width 600’, distance to toe ~ 250 vertical feet. Looked to have slid on on 2021/12/09 new old interface. Did not step down to lower faceted snow.
None reported
Observed Avalanche Problem #1:
Wind Slab
Comments:
Ridge top deposits had firmed significantly in the past 24hrs what were touchy F hard slabs yesterday had become feet thicker and hardened to P hard slabs. Unpredictability of fresh stiff slabs and lack of safe test slopes led to avoidance rather than sensitivity tests. Was unable to fully escape breakable wind crust down entire descent to Sherwin meadow. New Hard wind slabs had developed over much of the terrain on the Sherwin ridge.
Observed Avalanche Problem #2:
Persistent Slab
Comments:
Did not experience any signs of instability hinting to persistent slab waking up, I.E.no whoomphing, shooting cracks or collapsing. We avoided obviously shallow spots on our ascent like rock rock out crops where hoars may be more advanced and closer to new snow surface. Did not dig to preform any formal investigation of persistent sensitivity.
Observed Avalanche Problem #3:
Storm Slab
Comments:
Storm slab seems consistently right side up and bonding well to its stellar brethren. Was hard to call it a storm slab anymore today.
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