- Sierra snow observation
12/15/08
US elsewhere
1864
3
Hard to believe a month has gone by since the first snowfall. Sad to say, nothin' much has been added. I do have a spot where I can get a 15 - 20 minute skin along a north slope ridgeline (Mt Rose).
Mammoth is doing OK- but the top (Mtn) has an icy base.
I did some poking around with my pole today, and dug out about 10 inches of 'C and H' sugar. The snow experts call this a basal (base) metamorhpism layer. The Hourglass run has great coverage as it usually gets 'stripped' by NNE winds. This will be a prime avy slope (gully), if it gets some heavy accumulation, and due to its base.
Mammoth is doing OK- but the top (Mtn) has an icy base.
I did some poking around with my pole today, and dug out about 10 inches of 'C and H' sugar. The snow experts call this a basal (base) metamorhpism layer. The Hourglass run has great coverage as it usually gets 'stripped' by NNE winds. This will be a prime avy slope (gully), if it gets some heavy accumulation, and due to its base.
Hey skimtner. I don't know if you remember this, but this is the Hourglass run a few years back. It went fairly large. You can also see a slab that ripped out in the foreground. I skied there quite often when it was raining in other parts of the Tahoe Basin. Be careful with that C&H!!
Thanks for the photo. I'm not digital yet. That run is definitely a classic slope for instability. I typically ski the area to the left and lower, Proletariat, which doesn't have the wide flat area (and wind-loading).
The only fatality up in this area was about 7 years ago, when one of the chutes (at Mt Rose resort) went, and the person was ragdolled through the terrain trap (of trees). That was unfortunate, he even worked at the resort.
Back to Hourglass - I usually ski that in March, except if we get some six footer dumps. And it currently has good coverage with the "C and H" lurking below the crust.
I just saw the crowns down below - gnarly. I aslo ski the pyramid looking shot at the highway turn, which is probably the best, and safest choice for POW. Thanks again
The only fatality up in this area was about 7 years ago, when one of the chutes (at Mt Rose resort) went, and the person was ragdolled through the terrain trap (of trees). That was unfortunate, he even worked at the resort.
Back to Hourglass - I usually ski that in March, except if we get some six footer dumps. And it currently has good coverage with the "C and H" lurking below the crust.
I just saw the crowns down below - gnarly. I aslo ski the pyramid looking shot at the highway turn, which is probably the best, and safest choice for POW. Thanks again
I'm waiting for new snow, but tempted to go poke around this weekend around Rose...
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