Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

I toured to the top of the Chicken Wing to keep track of the persistent slab problem north of Mammoth and look for any sensitive wind slabs.

• I had a few baby wind slabs break under my feet near the summit on northeast and east aspects. There was also a wee little natural wind slab that had failed Monday. I saw the partial crown of a large avalanche on the east face of Mt. Wood. This probably ran over the weekend during the storm. Parts of it, and its debris, had been blown over.
• I consistently found facets buried December 1st less than a meter below the surface on northwest, north, and northeast aspects near and below treeline. I got mixed results on this layer, though most of my tests propagated. The facets appear harder than they previously were and are rounding in places. I experienced no collapses or cracking on this layer.
• As I drove from Bishop this morning, northwest winds were blowing snow across the highest peaks. Winds appear to have dropped throughout the day.

I’m still avoiding steep, complex, rocky terrain until the persistent slab problem starts consistently behaving itself.