Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Date:

March 9, 2022 - March 9, 2022

Submitted:

March 9, 2022

Observer:

Jonathan Tuttle | Pro Observer

Zone or Region:

Mammoth Lakes

Location:

Sherwin's (Mammoth Rock) -Wintry snow on NE aspects, light wind effect in exposed areas

Recent Avalanches?

None Observed

Cracking?

None Experienced

Collapsing?

None Experienced

Stability Rating:

Good

Confidence in Rating:

High

Stability Trend:

Improving

Toured from the end of old mammoth road winter trailhead up to 10,000 ft on the Sherwin ridge. Descended down the trees between mammoth rock bowl and the hose down to the chute skiers right of poop chute, then continued down the mammoth rock apron. Skinned back to the car via the east facing gully.

No significant signs of instabilities scene on the tour today
Top 10-50 feet of the Sherwin ridge was stripped from the north wind event a few days ago
light to no wind effect or temperature effected snow in treed areas on the decent (NE aspect)
Slick skin track with a few areas that ski crampons could have been handy to have but was able to make it to the ridge without them
light wind effected snow in exposed non-treed areas with a 1-3cm 4f wind crust/slab on top (not very cohesive)
5-15cm of settled powder on top of a firm but smooth supportable crust
Produced a small loose dry sluff than ran 200 feet while skiing down the steep chute adjacent to poop chute
No blowing snow noticed, despite moderate wind gusts on the ridgetop
East aspect gully(8000-8400ft) on the skin out had moist 2-3cm of moist corn snow around 10:30am