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Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 10, 2023
Submitted:
April 11, 2023
Zone or Region:
Bishop Creek
Activity:
Location:
Boundary Peak (out of forecast area)

Observations

I know this is out of the forecast area, but I thought some folks might want the information since for many of us this is as much our backyard as the Sierras are. Delete

Climbed to 12k' on the East Ridge of Boundary Peak on Monday. We climbed in the Middle Creek drainage. Snow line on that road is at 7100'. Mostly uninterrupted snow from there up, but things melted fast yesterday. Air temps were super hot and forecasted winds didn't arrive until mid-afternoon. Snow surfaces were supportable in the morning but eventually everything below about 10k' became bottomless rotted out corn. We descended the SE bowl from the ridge at 12k' at 1pm, which was several hours too late on such a hot day. Even up high the corn was overcooked by early afternoon. On the way out, we collapsed a number of E/NE slopes that had a meter or less of saturated snow on them. None slid significantly, but big whumpfs, 10-20' shooting cracks, and the snow surface dropped.

Coverage is plentiful on E, S, SE aspects up high; the N and NE faces look more wind-stripped but definitely still navigable. Beta photos attached.

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Isolated

Media

Boundary Peak NE Bowl (Trail Creek)
Boundary SE bowl (Middle Creek), Montgomery E Face
Montgomery NW Face
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