Mammoth Area - Sherwins-deep snow conditions & wind slab development

SNOWPACK OBSERVATION
The Perch--Trees
Submission Info
Forecaster
Saturday, February 9, 2019 - 2:45pm
Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
37° 36' 39.6864" N, 118° 58' 21.8208" W
See map: Google Maps
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

HNS: 50cm

Nearly 2ft of new snow fell overnight and through the morning. Conditions in the trees from 9500 ft down on northerly aspects provided the best deepest turns of the season. We did trigger one small wind slab (6"x20'wide, 50'vert) intentionally on a wind loading roll on a NE aspect right below treeline. This was the one sign of instability observed. Upon stomping on windloaded leeward minor ridgelines, was not able to produce cracking or propagation within the snow. Was not able to see anything in the alpine today, nor was willing to venture into it. Skinning was deep, but with the low density of snow, progress was not to ardous.  In our area below treeline, snow was welded in place. Northwesterly aspects within the trees were being swept by westerly winds and due north and easterly aspects held deep powder.

Dug a snowpit at 9200ft, NE aspect, 39deg slope.  

HS:200cm

HNS: 50cm

CT14 @ 25cm below surface on slight hardness change in new snow. Otherwise completely right side up snowpack with the exception of  4F bottom 35cm of snowpack on ground. Facets at bottom rounding and gaining strength.

ECTX

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Steady winds all day, but definitely on the increase around 100pm and by 300pm it was time to depart the mountains. Snow was a blowing and moving every which way with the swirling winds and gusts. Sky was nearly 100% covered in the Mammoth area for most of the afternoon. Nice and chilly keeping the new deep powder good.

16F at 2pm 9200ft

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