Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Date:

February 24, 2022

Submitted:

February 24, 2022

Observer:

Brooke Maushund | Pro Observer

Zone or Region:

June Lake

Location:

Mt Lewis - soft snow over hard crust; lack of wind slab

Recent Avalanches?

None Observed

Cracking?

None Experienced

Collapsing?

None Experienced

Stability Rating:

Very Good

Confidence in Rating:

High

Stability Trend:

Steady

N/NE aspects between 7200′-11000′ have relatively soft surfaces. Down lower 1-2cm of soft snow and up higher up to 4-6cm of soft snow on top of a firm, but breakable in spots 3cm crust of old snow surface, with facets underneath
Old surface was variably thicker and quite supportable in spots
Skiing was challenging at higher elevations due to very soft snow over hard surface; boot packing with crampons made for much more efficient after ~10k
Small areas of isolated 1-2cm wind slabs up near the ridge over 10500′; very stubborn and very small
No signs of instability observed

Wind transport visible along ridgeline on looker's L of ridgetop

Hiking up to the snow. Wind transport visible looker's L side of ridgeline

Large hoar developed at lower elevations in the flats on our skin up.

Common theme for surfaces wa variying depths of soft snow over a slicker, firm old snow surface. Challenging skinning led us to boot pack with crampons quite early in our ascent

Advanced Information

Cloud Cover:

Clear

Temperature:

-4°C

Wind:

Light , N

0809 / AirT < 0°C / wind transport visible along ridge top (see photo) / CLR
0854 / AirT > 0°C / 7556′ / CLR / light N wind / large hoar frost in flats (see photo)
1008 / AirT = -4.3°C / NE / 8110′ / CLR / calm wind in trees / 2-3cm of soft snow over hard firm old snow surface / HS 65cm
1105 / AirT = -2.3°C / NE / 8910′ / CLR / light N wind / 2-3 cm of soft snow over hard firm old snow surface, challenging skinning / HS 55cm
1159 / AirT = -0.7°C / NE / 9590′ / CLR / calm / 4-5cm of soft snow over hard firm old snow surface, challenging skinning / HS 45cm
Switched to crampons @10130′
1343 / AirT < 0°C / NE /10500′ / CLR / light N wind

Toured up from the small resorvoir up the access road towards Sawmill to access Mt Lewis. After some hiking, we started to skin up, with varying surface conditions. Little flurries were visible along ridgeline of snow being transported in small amounts before we started skinning (see photo). The main theme of surfaces for the day was varying depths of soft new snow on top of hard packed, sometimes icy and sometimes windpressed old snow surface (see photo). We continued up near the ridge towards the summit, however we stayed just looker’s L of the ridge proper to avoid dense trees. We saw very little to no wind affect on snow surfaces, with conditions tempting to ski down. No signs of proper wind slabs nor instability observed. At 10130′ we found skinning challenging enough due to depth of new snow & icy quality of old snow surface to switch to booting with crampons. We continued up to the ridge, and made the call that the skiing in the gullies we ascended would be of high quality, and the N Couloir still would have debatable quality based on the wind transport we saw earlier. We dropped down the NE face of Mt. Lewis from the ridgeline, with ski quality the best we’ve seen in the past 6+ weeks (see video).