Mammoth > Convict > Rock Creek - Road Tour

Trailhead snow survey:

Ventured out on the roads for a trailhead snow survey from Mammoth south to Rock Creek. A variety of depths with the greatest amount at Twin Lakes Trailhead. Storm slab tendencies within the new snow observed in the Mammoth Basin (8000’ to 8500’). Convict Lake and Rock Creek, less snow with little or no wind effect, no slab tendencies within the new snow.  

By depth:

Twin Lakes, Elev. 8600  (400 PM) – 27 cm to 30 cm (10” -12”). Hand shears - Top 1/3, Easy moderate, planer, stallers. Winds SW/Mod to Strong, Gusts strong. Possible extreme (saw a road sign get pulled off it’s post). That was interesting. New Snow – 4 Finger- over Fist-. Snowfall rate – S2 (~1”). Sky Overcast.  Blowing Snow – SW, Mod, Intense w/ gusts.

Sherwins, Elev. 8300’ (500 PM) – 27cm (10” +/-). Hand shears – Top 1/3, Easy moderate, planer, stallers. Winds W/ Lite, Gusts Moderate. New Snow – 4 Finger- over Fist-. Snowfall rate – S2 (~1”) Sky Overcast. Blowing Snow – SW, Light w/ gusts.

Earthquake Dome, Elev. 8300 (430 PM) – 20 cm (8” +/-).  Hand shears - Top 1/3, Easy moderate, planer, stallers. Winds S/Lt, Gusts Moderate. New Snow – 4 Finger- over Fist-, Snowfall rate – S2 (~1”) Sky Overcast. Blowing Snow – SW, Light w/ gusts.

Rock Creek (600), Elev. 8900’ - 15cm (6”+/-).  Hand shears – N/A (Loose), Winds Calm, Gusts Nil. New Snow Fist-, Snowfall rate – S1 (~. 5”) Sky Overcast. Blowing Snow – Nil

Convict Lake Elev. 7600’  (530 PM) – 13cm(5” +/). Hand shears – N/A (Loose), Winds Calm, Gusts Nil. New Snow Fist-, Snowfall rate – S-1 (~.25”) Sky Overcast. Blowing Snow – Nil 

Note - southerly aspects from ~ 9000 and lower that were bare prior to this storm now have 15 cm to 30 cm and growing (~6" to 12") new, with anchors and ground cover beginning to become covered by snow allowing for more snow transport where the terrain is open and/or predisposed to wind channeling by local terrain features, resulting in crossloading and top loading favored terrain features. Tender wind slabs anticipated.