Quick report
Today's objective was to assess upper mountain conditions on the south side of Mount Shasta. Overall, the snowpack is exactly what was expected: stable, firm and icy. Above 8,500 feet, an icy glaze covers all moraines and knolls in Avalanche Gulch and Old Ski Bowl. Chalky, soft snow has collected in surrounding gullies. Above 10,000 feet, most steep slopes consist of firm ice, providing decent climbing but terrible skiing. Extreme caution must be taken while traveling over these surfaces. A slip and fall would be very hard to arrest.
An old avalanche was spotted in the Trinity Chutes area. This avalanche likely occurred over the weekend after extended wind loading and warming temperatures.
As for snowpack instability, nothing worth noting was observed.
Southerly aspects softened considerably, and provided decent skiing at around 3 pm today.
No instabilities were observed.Weather
- Air Temp
- 34
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- N/A
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Blue skies, and warm temperatures. Temperatures were well above freezing, even at 11,000 feet. Northwest wind was mostly calm and unnoticeable in Old Ski Bowl. Wind strengthened to moderate above 10,500 feet. No precipitation.
Snowpack
The snowpack is very, very firm. Southern aspects, up to 11,000 feet, softened considerably by the mid-afternoon. W-NW-N-NE-E aspects were edge-able at low elevations, becoming icy above 8,500 feet. Even with moderate wind speeds, no wind transported snow was observed.