Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

-Mammoth had 3 lifts open for part of today, so took advantage of that to get to a higher elevation than I could have otherwise with how hard travel was this afternoon.

-Snowing 2-3″/hr, very strong winds blowing snow everywhere.

-Thigh deep wallowing and struggling on un-groomed sub-30° runs. Thank you snowcat for making a track to get down!

-Dug a pit just above the top of chair lift on 28° north facing slope.  Today’s new snow ranged from 60-90cm, and total snow depth was a whopping 350cm. ECTP21 at interface of low density snow from today ontop of a firm layer of snow from Christmas night.  Boot penetration = chest deep.  Ski pen = 70cm.  Would hate to fall head first in this snow!

-Patrol reported widespread touchy storm slab avalanches with 6-18″ crowns this morning mid-mountain, and much more snowfall and wind deposition occurred after that.