Mammoth Lakes Basin

We went for a jaunt in the Lakes Basin to get views of any avalanche activity, and assess how much wind affected the new snow. We were also curious how the new snow was bonding to the old snow interface.

Snowpack underfoot was affected by winds at all elevations in varying capacities. Snow was slabby, thick and punchy and affected by wind, but surprisingly minimal instabilities were observed underfoot. New snow and wind effect were found over what are now buried near surface facets and melt freeze crusts. Still, minimal propagation and minimal actual slab formation was observed. Natural avalanche activity was observed NTL and ATL, however. 

Movement was difficult due to the quality of the snow. Blowing snow was observed at all elevations in the am, and then only near and above treeline as winds decreased throughout the day. 

We experienced minimal signs of instabilities underfoot today. However, we were able to observe numerous avalanches in NTL and ATL terrain, and we could see and feel wind blowing snow down and across slopes throughout the day.

HS variable from 170 cm to 300 cm BTL. Deeper areas have current and prior wind loading. Shallower areas are E-S aspects. SW aspects were observed as scoured in the distance. DH felt at bottom of snowpack beneath very hard slabs lower down in the snowpack. Various MFcrusts observed throughout the snowpacks at variable depths. New snow/old snow interfaces varied - MF crusts with very small near surface facets found on E-S aspects, and buried near surface facets found on northerlies. Still, no propagation observed underfoot today, as interfaces were variable and actual slab formation was minimal.