Eastside Region

Avalanche danger is LOW. Variable and perilous “slide-for-life” conditions are the greatest hazards in the backcountry. Be on the lookout for heating of snow surfaces and rockfall on W-SW-S-SE Aspects at ALL ELEVATIONS.

It will be another sunny day with plenty of solar input and warm temperatures. Easterly winds will blow at moderate to strong velocities in the upper elevations aiding in keeping conditions a bit cooler than yesterday. Although it was a warm and calm day Monday, observations from southerly terrain in the 8-10000ft range did not find any loose-wet concerns or unsupportable type snow. Most southerly aspects have now baked down and consolidated during our lengthy drought. With continued good overnight freezes and some cooling day time breezes, the sunny aspects should be kept in check for the time being. Shallow areas of snow on SW-S-SE aspects, and sticky transitioning conditions on lower Westerly aspects will be surfaces areas to avoid. One of the primary hazards currently is Rock Fall in confined and tight southerly terrain.

Snow surfaces in the alpine environments are firm, eroded and undercut by upslope winds. Touring in the Eastern Sierra is an exciting challenge right now, and it remains good practice to reduce one’s exposure to cliffs or where a fall on steep and incredibly firm slopes may be un-recoverable. Ski mountaineering equipment (ice axe, whippet, crampons & helmet) are all good if not mandatory parts of the kit.