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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 23, 2022
Submitted:
December 24, 2022
Observer:
Everett Phillips | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Bishop Creek
Location:
Bishop Bowl - thin coverage

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Key Points

Tour in Bishop Bowl to evaluate surface conditions and see how the P Slab problem has changed in Bishop Creek since my last visit.

  • The lower moraines have melted out significantly making access from Aspendell a challenge. Skinning up through the sage is manageable, skiing downhill on the way out is the crux.
  • Once above the lower moraine the snow is staying cold. North facing snow was soft and dry down to 9000′.
  • The main hazard is low snow cover. We hit rocks on most slopes we rode. This includes all aspects from 84000′ to 11800′.
  • The P. Slab problem is isolated near and below treeline in Bishop Creek due to the low snow coverage. We did not travel above treeline.

Media

Shallow buried rocks in Bishop Bowl (N aspect 10000')
E 11500' Bishop Creek
Aspendell Coverage 12/23
Bishop Creek conditions 12/23
Bishop Bowl 12/23

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
37
Wind:
Light , SW

Snowpack Observations

I dug a pit on an E aspect at 11,500′ where there was 90cm of total snow. The structure was poor and my first ECT propagated after 16 taps down 65cm in F hard facets. I repeated the test twice more with no results. In this area the slab and weak layer are interrupted by boulders shrubs and other ground anchors. It seems like in this area the low total snow that has contributed to the poor structure is also anchoring the slope.

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