US
Good morning, this Max Forgensi
with the If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us! To check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE. To check out the current weather, go to our WEATHER page. For more information on snowmobiling on the Skyline, click this LINK WE ARE TEACHING A FREE A.I.A.R.E. (AMEREICAN
INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE, REASEARCH AND EDUCATION) CLASS UP ON THE SKYLINE! THE CLASS IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 26TH-28TH. CALL 435-636-3363 TO SIGN UP. |
General Conditions: A ridge of high pressure
is setting up in the Great Basin today and will persist at least through the
mid-week. Valley inversions will
be in place during this time period and the higher elevations will warm a bit
each day in response to the high pressure. No news for precipitation…Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL is at
46% of its normal Snow Water Equivalent for this time of year…conditions will
be best on designated trails and meadows. High alpine bowls and thick drainages will still have
plenty of ground hazards. Read
on to the avalanche conditions for what to look out for in these areas.
It is still cold out this morning, bring extra clothes and warm
drinks! Mountain Weather: Today: Mostly sunny. West wind 8 mph.
High 23. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS): in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): |
24.3” |
0” |
-9.0 |
COLD!!!! |
|
19.7” |
0” |
-2.0 |
Winds out of the West at 12 gust to 16 |
Wx down |
Wx down |
Wx down |
Wx down |
|
Miller
Flat Trailhead: |
23” |
~ |
~ |
COLD!!!! |
Avalanche Conditions:
(Click here
for the International Avalanche Danger Scale) There
has been three days since we triggered
a HS-AS-R5-D2-O/G (Hard slab, skier triggered, 100% of avalanche path, enough
to injure or kill you) avalanche on an East facing slope at 10,000’. It was 300’ wide, broke way back on
the ridge (started at 22 degrees) and the fracture line was 1’-2.5’
deep. It ran farther than
expected and wider than expected.
Time heals instabilities in the snow pack, the longer these hard slabs
stay in place, the tougher they’ll be to fail. With that being said, keep your guard up…the snow pack
structure on the ground is some of the weakest and shallowest I’ve ever
seen. I would not be surprised if
some of these hard slabs could still be triggered if the sweet spot is
hit.
The snow pack on North aspects is weak, uncohesive, sugar snow that
will be reactive if we get significant snow fall, when that will be is a good
question. South aspects have
breakable sun-crusts in sheltered areas while your west aspects have been
stripped by recent winds. The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an AVALANCHE DANGER of MODERATE on North-Southeast aspects where recent wind slabs have been deposited. Be especially careful on steep wind-loaded slopes above tree-line on East-Southeast aspects. |