Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did an afternoon tour up Downs Mountain today. I wanted to find out if the snow was still soft in the N facing sheltered trees. It was a very windy day  with wind speeds over 100 mph on the summit of Mammoth Mountain and strong winds in any location that was at all exposed. While skinning up the north ridge of Downs Mountain in the old growth trees, we only felt light winds. And I still was able to find soft snow for skiing down.

• 4 cm of new snow from last Tuesday’s inside slider storm on top of old faceted snow made for soft powder like skiing.
• Faceted soft snow on a majority of the sheltered N facing treed slope.
• Active wind transport by rolling above 9400 ft. on the ridge nearing the summit. SW winds light.
• Isolated cracking of new windslab in kick test, 10 cm 4F windslab.
• Foot pen in the soft snow on N ridge at 9400 ft. was up to my boot top.
• Strong winds aloft but only light winds in the old growth forest.
• Clouds pushing over the Sierra crest slowly by 1500 hrs.
• Temps below freezing
• Sky conditions FEW
• .

Snow Stability