Mammoth Rock Bowl, Sherwin Trees

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SNOWPACK OBSERVATION
Mammoth Rock Bowl, Sherwin Trees
Submission Info
Forecaster
Sunday, February 19, 2017 - 3:30pm
Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Mammoth Rock Bowl, Sherwin Trees 37° 36' 47.376" N, 118° 59' 31.4808" W
See map: Google Maps
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Quick ascent up lower Mammoth Rock Bowl skin route to assess the windloading and the general snowpack. From the Old Mammoth Trailhead immediately encountered ~ 50 cm of dense snow. Ascended via the standard route up Old Mammoth Rd. Slow going breaking trail, skin track in exposed areas filling in with wind transported snow. Soft Wind Slabs forming along semi-exposed North to Northeasterly aspects above ~8300'. Obvious wind scouring of exposed ridgetop and along ridgeline from recent Westerly winds. Snowpack, intermittent Wind Slabs and dense snow. Wind Slab hand shears, easy to moderate 5 to 15 cm. Noted the previously posted avalanche activity that overran the normal ascent route. Picture attached. Debris in foregound, mature tree leaning from impact in background. Skiing conditions challenging, avalanche potential increasing with new snow and pre-frontal wind transport ahead of the next storm system.     

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Sky: fully obscured by afternoon, partly cloud in the AM. Temps at the TH were ~0 +/-. Snow surface (2-3 cm thick) moist. Drying with elevation.

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