Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

MODERATE Avalanche hazard exists at the Upper and Middle elevations primarily for WET-LOOSE avalanche concerns. Stubborn WIND SLAB also continues to be an additional concern in the alpine elevations.    Be on the lookout for deeper wind loaded pockets of snow in steep and complex alpine terrain. Small wet-loose sluffing should also remain a concern on all aspects, primarily those receiving increased heating.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Warm temperatures along with solar input and potential greenhouse effects will continue to loosen new deposits of snow on virtually all aspects at all elevations Thursday. Steeper terrain receiving direct impact from solar radiation or in areas where heating is accelerated, especially slopes above cliffs, or gullies and depressions would be best to avoid. Other terrain features such as tight confined couloirs that are receiving amplified heating effects will be particular terrain features to carefully consider today. Although new snow amounts were minimal, even a small slide from up high can gain significant volume as it travels down some of our bigger terrain. Winds from all directions during the recent storm loaded or cross-loaded all aspects and deposited more snow in the upper elevations, so keep that in mind as you travel higher into alpine objectives. Natural activity was observed yesterday in the Negatives and Ritter Range on northerly and easterly facing terrain. Wet-Loose activity, although mostly small has also been seen below tree line where even a small slide could drag you into nasty obstacles. Continue to consider the potential on not only sunnier, but the shady aspects as well.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind slab from this recent storm will overall mostly be welded and stabilized at this point, but there could be lingering stubborn areas of wind loaded snow in complex and steep alpine terrain. The plethora of smooth and near-surface faceted old surfaces that the new snow was deposited on this week provides the possibility for unique instabilities out there. Keep it on your radar and be on the lookout on ALL ASPECTS today. Observations yesterday still found isolated shooting cracks, and slabby conditions in the alpine environment. Identify recent cornice growth, fat looking pillows and ribbons of fresh snow and be aware of what is above you today. Take note if you’re starting to see shedding snow or roller balls to indicate that the new snow is getting heated and loosened by sun or greenhouse effects. Areas adjacent to ridgeline, convex rolls, cliff bands and rock outcroppings will be some of the prime terrain suspects to find deeper and potentially more hazardous wind slab.

Avalanche Discussion

Warming and shedding surface snow from this week’s little storm along with residual wind slab hazards in alpine terrain should be focused concerns for riders today. Getting an early start is paramount right now and paying particular attention to changing conditions associated with heating is key.

Although most seasoned warriors recognize the abnormal season, we have had… now, and moving into April, backcountry adventure seekers need to store in their mental catalog that we are dealing with an overall very thin, relatively weak-- compared to normal Sierra standards, and obstacle ridden landscape that may produce some dynamic action in regards to future Wet-Loose & Wet Slab avalanche concerns. Not to mention injury inducing areas of unconsolidated mank already found at snowline areas.  Instead of much of the spring snow pack being a robust, consolidated medium that can undergo lengthy periods of melt-freeze cycles, we're dealing with much of the snowpack existing as thin shields of snow that have sat and faceted for nearly 3 months and now are getting zapped with dramatic increase in temperatures and much more solar input. Many of these thinner and weaker panels and fields of snow have already become isothermal and completely unsupportable after they lose their superficial surface freeze from overnight cooler temps. All I’m trying to say is that the spring season of 2022 is not like a “normal” Sierra spring and may well indeed prove to be more unstable than we are used to. “Not normal” in regards to skiing and backcountry travel in my book just means to give the mountains even more respect than normal and keep a keen eye out for and thoughtful introspection on where to and where not to go.

This will be my last forecast for the season, hope I’ve been able to help out a bit and as always, Have fun out there in the “Range of Light” -Chris

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