Lakes Basin - below Hammil Bowl

SNOWPACK OBSERVATION Mammoth Lakes Basin - Below Hammil Bowl
Submission Info Forecaster Friday, January 15, 2016 - 12:00pm

Red Flags:

37° 35' 13.6752" N, 118° 59' 46.7088" W

See map: Google Maps

Snowpit Observations

More detailed information about the snowpack:

-About 1ft of new snow appeared to have fallen last night in the Lakes Basin, with considerable variation due to wind transport form moderate to high SW winds at all elevations.

-Many crowns visible from very recent natural avalanches. See avalache observations --> Mammoth Area

-Lots of visible snow transport at upper elevations (>10,000') during periods of strong winds today.

-Shooting cracks and some slope settlement noted at mid elevations below tree line. Small 10-12" soft slabs brokefree when unsupported below near kickturns on steeper terrain during skinning.

-One pit dug on ESE aspect, 25deg slope, ~9600' elev. Below tree line below Hammil Bowl area.
- Total snow depth: 114cm.
- Air temp: 1.5 C, Surface temp: -0.2 C, temp 20cm down: -3.8 C
- New snow deposited = 28cm. Stability tests consistently failed just under melt/freeze crust that formed yesterday before 28cm of new snow was depositited last night. CT3 28cm down Q2. CT2 28cm down Q2, ECTN12 28cm down. ECTX.
- No test failures below this layer, including no failures at rounding facets near the ground.

Weather Observations

Blowing Snow:

Yes

Cloud Cover:

25% of the sky covered by clouds

Air temperature:

Above Freezing

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature trend: