Lawinenlagebericht

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

On scattered terrain features with enough snow to ride, you could trigger a small avalanche where a stiff slab rests over a weak layer of loose, sugary snow. Thin coverage increases the consequences of triggering even a small avalanche. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    In isolated areas, a slab of stiffer snow overlays weak facets near the base of the snowpack. The problem is most likely found on terrain features prone to wind-loading, especially in the Mammoth Area and near the Sierra Crest. Persistent weak layers are slow to gain strength and can remain a concern over an extended period. If triggered, the resulting avalanche could break in unexpected ways - from across the slope, or from below. Shooting cracks and whumpfing noises in the snowpack are signs of instability. Managing this problem may be more difficult because poor snow coverage means that the few areas attractive for riding are generally the same slopes where the avalanche problem may exist. 

Avalanche Discussion

Skunked again! Winds diminished yesterday around the time that snow showers began. A paltry few inches fell throughout the day. Temperatures have dropped and dry conditions are expected through the early part of the week.

The last reported slab avalanche occurred on the 21st. While snowpack tests and observations continue to highlight weak facets at the base of our shallow snowpack, collapsing and cracking have waned since the 24th.

Across the majority of the forecast area, avalanche start zones with enough snow to be concerning are isolated. The exception is the Mammoth Lakes area, and closer to the Sierra Crest. In these areas, the combined distribution of weak layers and an overlying slab is more continuous. The snow atop the weak layer varies from a few inches of loose snow to stiff slabs more than a foot thick. Warm days and sunshine have melted the snow surface near and below treeline leaving some areas with a firm crust atop the facets below.

In the big picture, dribs and drabs and dustings of snow have not been enough to overload our fragile snowpack. Nor has coverage improved much. Without consistent snow coverage, travel in the mountains has been difficult. While triggering more than a small avalanche on individual terrain features is unlikely, your risk of injury, if you are carried downhill through rocks and logs, remains high. 

Abgedeckte Regionen