Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
January 8, 2022Submitted:
January 8, 2022Observer:
Josh Feinberg | Key ObserverZone or Region:
Convict CreekLocation:
Old Man's BowlSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
Very GoodConfidence in Rating:
HighStability Trend:
ImprovingKey Points
- No signs of instability today. Despite full-sunshine and lack of winds, east facing slopes of Mini-Morrison showed no signs of loose-wet activity … too chilly.
- Widespread very firm conditions from lake-side to top of Old Man’s Bowl. Not a single soft turn to be had … but not a single breakable crust turn either, so not all bad! Ski crampons would make travel much less tenuous, even on the lower elevation moraine slopes. Managed to make it down with all my teeth intact despite all the chatter.
Widespread very firm conditions below Mini-Morrison.
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
ClearWind:
Calm , NW
Chilly day with mostly calm winds, except for some light downslope winds in Old Man’s Bowl proper. No clouds.
Avalanche Observations
| # | Date | Location | Size | Type | Bed Sfc | Depth | Trigger | Comments | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Older than a week |
Mini-Morrison aka Mono Jim easterly chutes and Old Man's Bowl NE 10,750' |
D2.5 | HS | O-Old Snow | 2ft | N-Natural | None |
Went to investigate this avalanche crown that likely released during the snowfall and wind event on 12/29 to see if wind slab released on basal facets, or just a normal wind slab. R3-D2.5. Crown was on NE aspect at 10,750′, and ran 2/3 of a mile and nearly 1,500′ vertical with tree debris deposited at 9,300′. Avalanche did indeed release on basal facets. Total snow depth at crown is 1meter, top 50cm pencil hard wind slab ontop of 40cm of 2cm facets varying in hardness from fist pus to 4finger plus, ontop of 10cm of basal ice. Crown ranged from 1-2ft deep and ~40meters wide. Lots of open cracks still visible to lookers right of crown that didn’t actually slide, even a couple hundred feet downslope. CT27Q1 and ECTP26 in snow remaining above crown, 5-10cm down in facet layer.
Natural wind slab avalanche releasing on facets ~12/29 – Old Man’s Bowl
Old Man’s Bowl – tree debris at 9700′ from avalanche that released at 10,750′ 2/3mi upslope on ~12/29
-Evidence of several other D2.5 avalanches that ran down east slopes of Mini-Morrison as well.
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