Manto nivoso

June Mtn Backcountry

Sean SmollenEastside Region
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Quick report

I got out today in the Yost to Fern Lake area and expected worse coverage than I actually found. The depth of snow in the June Area remains significantly deeper than locations north of June or south of Mammoth. Generally, I found our average depth of snow to still be over 100cm above 8500' on northwest, north, and northeast slopes. As you travel onto other aspects of the compass, there is a much more drastic drop in snow depth.

The surfaces were as variable as expected, and ski crampons proved useful today. Below 8500', a melt-freeze crust at the surface (leftover from sustained warm temperatures on 1/22-1/23) made for some very poor snow quality.

I found no signs of instability.

Weather

Air Temp
35
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
0
Snow Avail For Transport
none

Clear skies, calm to light southerly winds, and warm temperatures made today another beautiful day to walk in the mountains.

Snowpack

On a NE aspect less affected by the wind, at 9850' above Yost Meadow, I calculated a loss of 31.3% of our depth of snow from 1/9 to today, 2/4. 

415cm, 1/9

285cm today, 2/4

130cm difference over the last 3 1/2 weeks. 31.3% loss via settlement and sublimation.