Eastside Region

Avalanche danger remains LOW. Firm and perilous slide-for-life conditions as well as falling rock continue to be the greatest hazards in the backcountry.

There has not been any snowfall during the month of January and avalanche danger has remained at LOW for over 2 weeks. Gale force northeasterly winds impacted the crest yesterday with several hours of 100mph+ speeds recorded at Mammoth Mountain. Visible stripping and bannering of snow from Northerly aspects could be seen on the high peaks of the range during the afternoon yesterday. This will not help surface conditions one bit. Single digit temperatures overnight, continuing northerly winds, and cool temperatures today should keep most sunny aspects relatively locked up.  Travelers should still be heads up on lower elevation southerly aspects especially in confined terrain where sheltering and heating rocks may cause surface softening and loosening of rock. Falling rock may be one of the bigger concerns today with the hard freeze overnight and subsequent re-warming today.

Snow surfaces are variable to say the least, with many folks either choosing ski mountaineering objectives with the full gamut of mountaineering equipment (ice axe, boot/ski crampons, helmet etc.) or are seeking out soft turns within sheltered trees in a few select areas. Either way the winter season has been playing out in typical Sierra fashion with either feast or famine conditions thus far.