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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 9, 2022 - March 9, 2022
Submitted:
March 9, 2022
Observer:
Jonathan Tuttle | Pro Observer
Zone or Region:
Mammoth Lakes
Location:
Sherwin's (Mammoth Rock) -Wintry snow on NE aspects, light wind effect in exposed areas

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
High
Stability Trend: 
Improving

Key Points

Toured from the end of old mammoth road winter trailhead up to 10,000 ft on the Sherwin ridge.  Descended down the trees between mammoth rock bowl and the hose down to the chute skiers right of poop chute, then continued down the mammoth rock apron.  Skinned back to the car via the east facing gully.

  • No significant signs of instabilities scene on the tour today
  •  Top 10-50 feet of the Sherwin ridge was stripped from the north wind event a few days ago
  • light to no wind effect or temperature effected snow in treed areas on the decent (NE aspect)
  • Slick skin track with a few areas that ski crampons could have been handy to have but was able to make it to the ridge without them
  • light wind effected snow in exposed non-treed areas with a 1-3cm 4f wind crust/slab on top (not very cohesive)
  • 5-15cm of settled powder on top of a firm but smooth supportable crust
  • Produced a small loose dry sluff than ran 200 feet while skiing down the steep chute adjacent to poop chute
  • No blowing snow noticed, despite moderate wind gusts on the ridgetop
  • East aspect gully(8000-8400ft) on the skin out had moist 2-3cm of moist corn snow around 10:30am

Media

mammoth crest coverage picture
small 3cm light wind slab chunks initiated from a hard turn about 300 feet bellow the sherwin ridgeline
stripped wind texture surface on the top 10-50 feet of the Sherwin ridgeline
A few more rocks in the throat then the last time I skied the chute a month ago.
enjoyable skiing on the mammoth rock apron
small loose dry sluff in steep couloir near mammoth rock
Light wind effect snow on the mammoth rock apron

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
35
Wind:
Light , SW

Scattered clouds/sky from 0800-1115am

35 F at 10:15am at 10000 ft     light SW winds with moderate gusts

42 F at 10:45am at 8000 ft      lights SW winds

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