Quick report
Areas N of Mammoth, including Tioga Pass, have significantly less snow than Mammoth and high-elevation areas further south. In checking out the snowpack near Tioga Pass, we found that surface conditions and snowpack structure vary in relation to aspect. Of note, we were searching for basal facets. We found them on protected northerlies, and they produced propagating results in ECT tests with hard force. However, we found it difficult to find large swaths of connected terrain with uninterrupted basal facets with a slab over top in the areas we traveled today.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Above Freezing
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- None
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Clear, calm, warm day. Weather unremarkable, and lovely for a walk about.
Snowpack
HS varied from 15 cm to 90 cm.
Basal facets up to 4 mm were found at the ground- ECTP 29 and 26, and ECTP 25, in two different N, protected areas, one at 9900 ft. and the other above 10K, BTL, and NTL. There were no other signs of instability.
In general, protected Northerly and easterly slopes between 10,000' and 10,500' held a faceting snowpack. See snow profile and picture for more detailed info.
In this area, the north slopes at high elevations and west-facing slopes near and above treeline hold minimal snow (wind hammered, cliffy, etc.).
SE, S, SW held moist/wet snow to the ground in shallower areas during peak sun. Surfaces were quick to refreeze. The sun has melted away much of the coverage on solar aspects.
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