Observation Date:
February 26, 2022
Submitted:
February 26, 2022
Observer:
Chris Engelhardt | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Mammoth Lakes
Location:
Solitude Canyon-Dust on Crust conditions, minor warming
Recent Avalanches?
None Observed
Cracking?
None Experienced
Collapsing?
None Experienced
Stability Rating:
Very Good
Confidence in Rating:
High
Stability Trend:
Steady
- Checked out Solitude Canyon today to see what kind of new snow accumulation had fallen during this weeks little storm. Basically not much, upwards of 3″ were still present on north facing shady terrain on top of boiler plate conditions.
- Ski crampons were needed for a majority of the tour once I reached the toe slope of the headwall of Solitude point. When you have to use ski crampons continuously throughout the mid-winter season you know the skiing is not prime time.
- Measured only 70-80cm of total snow at 10000ft on due North aspects in Solitude.
- Dust on Crust skiing conditions, at least it was fairly smooth underneath in the upper steeper pitches.
- Got one minor facet sluff to initiate on shallow snowpack on top of a granite shelf.
- Minor warming of light new snow dusting in lower flats that were getting sun, but otherwise snowpack locked up from cold overnight temps.
- Sunny and calm today with 31degF recorded at 1230 at 10000ft.
- High haze and light cloud began developing around mid-day.
- No instabilities found at all.
