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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 2, 2023
Submitted:
January 2, 2023
Observer:
Everett Phillips | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Lee Vining
Location:
395 June Lake to Lee Vining - Avalanche Obs (Photos)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
Not Obs
Wind:
Light , W

Blowing snow above treeline visible from Highway 395 on the high peaks between June and Lee Vining.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
2 Past 48 hours Mt Wood
E 12000' 		D2.5 N-Natural
N-2.5 E aspect, 12000' Mt. Wood, CA
1 Past 48 hours Mt. Lewis
E 11600' 		D3 N-Natural
N-D3, E aspect, 11700', Mt. Lewis
1 Past 48 hours Mount Gibbs - East aspect of S. Ridge
E 11,900' 		D2.5 N-Natural
Large Natural Avalanche, E aspect, 11,900', South Ridge of Mt. Gibbs
3 Past 48 hours Peak 12565 (Gibbs N. Shoulder)
E 11,500' 		D2 N-Natural
3 Past 48 hours East Peak, at treeline, top of lower bench
NE 9000' 		D2 N-Natural
Multiple Natural D2, NE aspect, 9000', East Peak
3 Past 48 hours East Peak - Toe of NE Butress
NE 10,300' 		D2 N-Natural Multiple large natural avalanches NTL and debris from avalanches running from ATL start zones.
N-D2, East Peak, NE aspect, 10300', (Debris from ATL start zones visible as well)
1 Past 48 hours ATL East Peak, Lee Vining
E 11,300' 		D3 N-Natural Obvious debris out of the funnel shaped start zones in the center of photo. There is a possible crown line of a v. large avalanche in the shadows on the right margin of the photo half way up the frame.
East Peak, Lee Vining - avalanche activity from New Year's Eve storm (12/31/22)

Numerous crown lines and debris piles from large and very large avalanches were visible on the drive from June Lake to Lee Vining. The evidence was already partly re-filled by blowing snow and snowfall, so it seems likely that these avalanches occurred during the peak of the last storm on New Year’s Eve. This is more of an educated guess than confirmed data, but the depth and shape of the crown lines (irregular and wide propagation) suggest that some of these avalanches failed on weak layers in the old snow (persistent slab avalanches). Hard to know for sure from a distance and with blowing snow obscuring the details.

Avalanche Problems

Blowing snow on ridgelines in most of the photos points to the main concern today (20230102) – fresh wind slab formation ATL and NTL.

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