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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 22, 2022 - March 22, 2022
Submitted:
March 22, 2022
Observer:
Jonathan Tuttle | Pro Observer
Zone or Region:
Mammoth Lakes
Location:
Daves Wave and the Mammoth Crest- Warm Temps, transitioning snow bellow treeline

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Key Points

Skied off the back of Mammoth Mountain down Daves wave to horshoe lake.  Toured up the redcone skin track, then continued along the Mammoth crest until I found a nice looking NE facing chute to descend and continued down a drainage to TJ lake, then slogged my way back down to tamarack lodge.

  • Sustained 50mph NNE winds at the top of Mammoth Mountain at 11am when I dropped down Daves wave
    • Minimal blowing snow observed as there just isn’t much left to blow after the last 2 days of north wind
  • Top 1-2cm of moist snow on top of 5-7cm of recently windblown snow with a firm supportable melt freeze crust bellow
    • Snow skied quite nicely and became sticky and variable bellow 9800ft
  • Snow looked like it was sweating in the forest on the approach up redcone with visible water on surface of the snow.
    • Snowpack in the forest contained 3-5cm of moist surface snow with about 10cm of new snow on top of a supportable melt freeze crust. Seemed to still be in a transition stage and had not all turned into melt freeze crystals.
  • Top 600 feet of the crest ridge was stripped and the north facing terrain still skied as wintry snow down approx. 10000ft
  • Bellow 9500feet at 2pm I was able to produce rollerballs on steep NE facing terrain and saw several small natural roller balls along the rocks and cliffs and a few small natural wet loose slides under crystals crag.
  • Lakes are starting so show a blue color in the lakes basin with a few very small patches of open water and standing water on the surface
    • Best to take a conservative approach if you have any doubts about the lake and stay away from areas with moving water.
  • At 2:30pm on these warm days you pretty much have to skate down the tamarack road
  • Challenging skiing conditions bellow treeline with highly variably transitioning snow that was very grabby at times

Media

Lakes Basin Coverage
Backside of Mammoth Coverage
Soggy redcone skin track
Redcone coverage/condition
1-2cm of surface warming along mammoth crest despite the moderate NE winds at 1pm
Wintry snow, enjoyable skiing in the steep N facing terrain on the Mammoth Crest
Wintry snow near the top of the mammoth crest
rollar balls produced when skiing some NE facing terrain bellow 9500ft
Some open water and blue color on George lake, a similar sight on lake Mary

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
50
Wind:
Moderate , NE

Sunny all day with temperature warming throughout the day

Strong NE winds decreasing to moderate NE over the day

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
1 Today Cliffs bellow crystal crag
E 9500 		D1 L S-New Snow 5" N-Natural very small natural wet loose slide, several roller balls seen in the cliffs
Very small wet looses slide on a East aspect at 2pm under crystal crag
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