Aspendell

My goals for today were to observe new snow in Bishop Creek and see if I could gain any information about a persistent slab problem. 

The lowest sagebrush slope above Bishop Park CG is entirely void of snow except for one favored gully. Once at the top of the moraine at 9500 ft, coverage is adequate for skinning and skiing.

Up in Bishop Bowl, I found 10 to 30 cm of settled storm snow on top of the old surfaces. There was minimal sign of wind effect except for right at exposed ridges. 

I did my best to stomp on pillows and drifts, hunted for loose wet midday, and dug in to look at the structure.

I found few signs of instability and no evidence of recent avalanches.

I kept it low-angle on the descent, and found enjoyable, consistent boot-top powder skiing back to 9500. Some survival skiing got me back to the truck without having to take my skis off.

 

Although I tried, I observed no signs of instability except for some loose dry sluffing where light, new snow was on top of firm old windboard.

HS @ 8300: 15 to 30 cm.

        @ 11300: 100 to 130 cm.

The new snow sits on crusts or bare ground below 9500 ft. Above, the subsurface is aspect-dependent.  Solars and lower angle slopes have a crust at the old interface. True polars and upper elevation E and NE have well developed facets under the new snow.

I dug at 11300 ft on an ENE aspect. I found about 30 cm of new snow (since 2/10) on top of 30 cm of 3mm facets. ECTN8 down 20cm. ECTX. Where I traveled today, there are widespread persistent grains below the new snow, but a slab is hard to find. 

Its possible with continued settlement and warming, a more elastic slab will form. Its also possible that it wont.