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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 26, 2023
Submitted:
February 26, 2023
Observer:
Everett Phillips | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Convict Creek
Location:
Mini Morrison - Recent Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Key Points

Skies cleared for long enough today to see a evidence of natural avalanche activity from yesterday. I toured up the moraines above Convict Lake for a closer look.

  • Crown faces on Mini Morrsion seem to correspond to the persistent slab problem we have been anticipating for the past few weeks. The terrain profile, ATL or NTL N, NE aspects low down in steep sheltered start zones, fits the bill.
  • Alot of wind transport in Mammoth and further north and back towards the crest behind Laurel and Morrison. Mini Morrison and McGee had less transport.
  • Intensity of blowing snow increased in the afternoon.

Media

Natrural avalanche on the N Face of Mini Morrison that ran full path and hit Convict Lake.
Wind transport from SW winds, 8000', Convict Creek.
Blowing snow ATL, Convict Creek
20230226: Blowing snow at upper elevations in Convict Creek.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Temperature:
30F @ 8600' at 2:00 PM
Wind:
Moderate , SW

Partly to mostly cloudy over ridges increasing in the PM. Winds gusted to strong, but were mostly light out of the SW. Moderate blowing snow during wind gusts. S-1 in the afternoon. NO precip. in the AM.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Past 24 hours McGee Mountain Northwest Chutes
NW 9800' 		D2 SS N-Natural
Debris from a natural avlanche. NW 9800' McGee Mountain. 2/26/23
1 Past 24 hours Mini Morrison
NE 9000' 		D2 SS 2 ft. N-Natural
NE 9000' Mini Morrison 2/26/23
1 Past 24 hours Mini Morrison N Face
N 9500' 		D1 SS 2 ft. N-Natural
N 9500' Mini Morrison 2/26/23
1 Past 24 hours Mini Morrison N Face
N 9500' 		D2 SS 2 ft. N-Natural
N 9500' Mini Morrison 2/26/23

Snowpack Observations

Exposed moraines 8000 to 9000′: Ski pen 30cm. Boot Pen: 50cm. Upside down snow with a 10 to 15cm cohesive wind layer at the surface causing poor ski conditions and difficult trail breaking.

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