Warming on Mammoth Mountain Solar Aspects

A gorgeous day in the mountains! Didn't feel like doing too much vertical climbing today so opted for the lift-served backcountry runs on the solar aspects off Mammoth Mountain. A cool north wind blowing light to moderate kept northerlies cold and wintery, though it didn't do much to keep the solar aspects from warming quickly today with the big jump in daytime temps from yesterday.

Top of Fresno Bowl (SW aspect/10,600') @ 11:15am - Tair=3deg C, Tsurf=-.5deg C. Ski Pen 5cm, increasing to 10cm by 9,600'.

Slight aspect changes to the west found firmer surfaces but SW was already at or slightly past prime at 11:15, an hour earlier than yesterday.

Top of Visalia Bowl (S aspect/10,800') @ 12:20 - Tair=4 deg C, T Surf=0deg C. Ski pen 15 cm. Lower down the surface was slightly more supportive and ski pen decreased slightly but again probably an hour too late. 

Only minor rollerballing was observed, even on steep slopes lower down that were much wetter. No natural loose wet avalanches observed.