2009-10 SoCal Snow Thread

[1000-oaks]

BALDY SNOW PIT REPORT 2/6/10. (From a total novice, so my findings are worth what you're paying for them.)

- Treed slope, about 30 degrees, lee/north aspect and likely wind loaded, maybe 100 feet lower elevation than the Notch.

- 115cm total depth.

- Top 18" or so was fresh, extremely wet snowball snow from last night, which received some rain this morning.

- Very hard layer 18" down (took some effort to push a pointed probe through it), about 4" thick and actually seemed to be several 1" thick hard layers (it had dark stripes).

- Everything below the hard layer was firm soft slab, soft enough to push in fingers but could be cut into fairly strong blocks. Great igloo snow, could almost stand on a block.

- 115cm down was a sheet of rough ice, couldn't dig any deeper, assume it was on the ground.

- Isolated column could take a gentle thump from the wrist, but sheared 8" down with a LIGHT thump from the elbow. As in barely thumping it. Repeated several more times, always same result. Couldn't see any clearly defined difference at the 8" depth, maybe a layer of graupel?
*** Was disturbed by this, though it wasn't sliding on 30 degree slopes I'll bet it would let go at steeper angles. Regardless of the new snow depth on other aspects, all probably have this undefined, weak middle layer. ***

- After removing top 8", continued compression tests. Pretty solid, no failures even hammering the shovel blade with both fists. Even held at the hard layer.

- Inserted shovel behind column and pulled, sheared at the hard layer with a light pull as to be expected for soft snow.

- Removed snow to hard layer and repeated pulls, had to REALLY get on it to get it to fail halfway down soft slab.

- Took same major effort to get it to fail at the ice layer at the bottom.

- Didn't bother with an R-block, was soaking wet, cold and ready to call it a day.

- Then the rain-soaked top 1" froze and turned into a breakable crust...and I went home.

[tele58]

Ended up getting about 2" of rain and 3" of slush with a dusting on top here. Nonetheless decided to head up to Snow Valley for some pre-Sbowl turns. They were reporting 9-12". Arrived to find 2" of frosting on a firm but soft pack. Lapped big bowl a couple times and then hiked chair 9 until they got it running. Lapped it until slide peak started running. Lapped it until we decided to go get the rest of the goods off 9. Was a much better day than expected and left with smiles aplenty!

[Pukesno]

PSA, REI (Santa Ana at least) sells Baldy Tickets for $39 and you get a voucher for a free day. You will need to make a reservation on line for the voucher.

[406]

Saturday Feb. 6, 2010 Baldy Ski Area:
NOAA got the temperature prediction wrong for the storm and most of the precept was rain. Seemed like they got about 4"-6" of very wet snow. Arrived in the parking lot around 7 to falling mix of rain/snow. After a little delay because the ticket window didn't know what time they could get the lifts going, davieboot and I loaded the lift around 8:00.
visibility:


Made a few runs on chair one. Fun turns, despite the wetness.

Talked to 1000-oaks and friend (WhyTurn?) at the top of the traverse off chair one, but didn't see them again after that. Thunder opened and we had mostly fresh tracks for several runs. Best in the trees, due to the flat light. The upper half of Thunder started to freeze up so went into the lodge around 11 to dry out gloves and eat.

After that made more runs on 1. A wet slide was triggered about 1/4 way down the ridge in a steep cliff area. I have noticed debris in this location before, but was impressed by the large rocks and branches it moved to the flat area and how far it traveled:


Couple flat light photos from our last run of the day around 1.
406:


davieboot:




Stone 22's post ski beer:

[tele58]

Nice 406! Sunday's weather was certainly dryer. The NWS has really missed the call on the past 3-5 storms. Have been loosing confidence in snow accumulation predictions! Having said that they are predicting another shot Tuesday-Wednesday. Ill report the postcast....

[1000-oaks]

Don't think it was me 406, I never skied chair 1 on Sat. Probably Whyturn & his buddy Vince. I think he had a grey jacket too.

[davieboot]

Yeah, it was WhyTurn and Vince. What happened to you guys? We never saw you again.

[Bodhi]

Anybody have any reports on how the BC is doing? Baldy bowl, Baden-Powell, roads along the Angeles Crest?

Anybody interested in a tour on Tuesday?

Local BC has been the best in 5 years (stuff at higher elevations about 6500 has been prime)--been hitting it a lot this year, so much that I've only been to Mammoth and the eastern Sierra only twice all season. I have a load of pictures been holding out, keep meaning to post but just have not had the time with work and fun...

Probably doing some BC on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday this week (then headed to Mammoth this Saturday and Sunday for the crazy crowd)...depending on this next system coming in locally Tues-Wed, if it does not clear out, then cut out Wednesday...

PM me if interested in some touring this week or the near future...

peace,
D.

[Tin Woodsman]

NWS LA sez:

A MAJOR IMPACT OF THIS UPCOMING STORM WILL BE THE VERY LOW SNOW
LEVELS. INITALLY...SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN 3500
AND 4000 FEET TUESDAY...THEN LOWER QUICKLY TO AROUND 3000 FEET
ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AS THE COLDER AIR
SPILLS INTO THE REGION. THICKNESS VALUES BOTTOM OUT AT A VERY
IMPRESSIVE 530 DM OVERNIGHT ON TUESDAY NIGHT! AS A RESULT...LOOK FOR
SNOW LEVELS TO FALL TO BETWEEN 2000 AND 2500 FEET TUESDAY
NIGHT...POSSIBLY EVEN LOWER UNDER ANY THUNDERSTORMS. WRAP AROUND
MOISTURE WILL LIKELY BRING THE THREAT OF ADDITIONAL SHOWERS TO THE
MOUNTAINS (ESPECIALLY NORTH FACING SLOPES) AND ANTELOPE VALLEY
THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY. WINTER STORM WATCHES WILL BE
POSTED FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS...WHERE 6 TO
12 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 16 INCHES
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SAN GABRIELS. DUE TO
THE LOW SNOW LEVELS EXPECTED...MAJOR LOW ELEVATION TRAFFIC CORRIDORS
WILL LIKELY BE IMPACTED BY ACCUMULATING SNOW.

That means I'm taking a day and heading to Baldy to pop my cherry on Wednesday. Anyone want to share a ride from the SFV?

[whyturn]

uh, I am feeling sick on Wednesday, see you there

[Adamantium]

That means I'm taking a day and heading to Baldy to pop my cherry on Wednesday. Anyone want to share a ride from the SFV?

uh, I am feeling sick on Wednesday, see you there

Wednesday is likely to be the day? I thought the forecast is calling for still unsettled weather and storming through Wednesday, which would imply Thursday is the day to be sick.

[Tin Woodsman]

Wednesday is likely to be the day? I thought the forecast is calling for still unsettled weather and storming through Wednesday, which would imply Thursday is the day to be sick.

Forecast looks like heaviest stuff is Tuesday PM into Wednesday morning, with snow showers throughout the day, ending Wed PM. Thursday is supposed to be bluebird, so you probably can't go wrong, but there won't be much if any additional accumulation past mid-day Wednesday.

[Tin Woodsman]

uh, I am feeling sick on Wednesday, see you there

Vehicle = acquired.

I'll be there with a 186 Bros, yellow jacket, black pants, red helmet with a swatch of green plaid fabric on the back.

[davieboot]

THICKNESS VALUES...

What are thickness values?

[Tin Woodsman]

What are thickness values?

I'm not a weatherman, and I don't play one on TV, but I think that refers to the distance (aka thickness) in elevation between two differing levels of pressure in the atmosphere - the 1000 mb level (essentially surface level) and the 500 mb level (roughly 18,000 feet). The lower the number, the lower the thickness value, the more cold air aloft you'll have at elevations where precip is being made, and the more instability you'll have. If you see something like 540 DCM, that means it is 540 decameters between those two pressure levels - equal to 5340 meters. That's why the forecast offices are predicting t-storms and hail from this system. Moist Pacific air sitting under a pool of cold air aloft leads to convection and heavy precip in certain areas. Also leads to low snow levels, like we'll see with this storm.

[Adamantium]

Forecast looks like heaviest stuff is Tuesday PM into Wednesday morning, with snow showers throughout the day, ending Wed PM. Thursday is supposed to be bluebird, so you probably can't go wrong, but there won't be much if any additional accumulation past mid-day Wednesday.

I guess I'm just wondering/speculating how much will be open and for how long on Wednesday. Then again, it's Baldy, so no one really knows!

[tele58]

this from NWS @ 0030 2/9:

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE LOWERING FROM 6000 FEET ON TUESDAY TO
NEAR 3000 FEET TUESDAY NIGHT...AND POSSIBLY DOWN TO 2000 FEET ON
WEDNESDAY. THIS WOULD IMPACT ALL ROADS GOING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA.

IN THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS...THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS...AND
THE SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS...TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED
TO RANGE FROM 8 TO 20 INCHES AT ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 3500 AND
6500 FEET AND OVER THREE FEET AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7000 FEET.

I took a look at the water vapor and infrared sat images and it looks like a substantial storm. Projected to pass right over us again this time. Accumulation predictions have been fluctuating during the day. Given the (lack of prediction) accuracy for the past couple storms I remain skeptical. None-the-less I plan to be out sliding on the white stuff later today, tomorrow and Thursday. My $$ is on Thursday.

[Bodhi]

I have been hedging back and forth between adding Wednesday to the list of days this week...but alas, I am already off Thursday and Friday anyway (and headed to the Mammoth "Zoo" for Saturday and Valentines day with the lady) and would not have to expend a valuable sick day, so I am leaning heavy towards Thursday being the "day"...I think Wednesday afternoon will be kind for inside Baldy and quickie sidecountry shots like Eric's, the 4 South Bowls, Butch's, and the other chutes further down Big Butch's Ridge down into Maniker...all the 1400' or so vert stuff we have been hitting the past month with a frenzy of happy bliss here in SoCal...





Eric's


Big Butch's


Jeff in Movie Chute


Our put in to Movie chute (stage right)


Right Side of Movie Chute (with our put in lookers right diagonal into the main chute)


Baldy (San Antonio), Harwood, Thunder Ridge and Thunder Chute


All of those shots should still be golden thru into Thursday afternoon with it being mid-week right before a holiday weekend, and even possibly the additional bonus of hitting a ripe Thunder Chute...

Thursday morning could be the perfect time for a farther bc shot been wanting to bag this year...ride ob of the east side of ch3 down into the saddle, then a short climb up Telegraph Peak...but instead of riding the NW face of Telegraph back down to the saddle (which I have done many times), ride down the ridgeline off Telegraph to the SW chute off of Telegraph Peak into Icehouse Canyon (2800' vert with 600' vert run-out thru the canyon)...



Not a shot of the above mentioned line (this is more west)


A good friend of mine has been eying it the past couple months, not sure if he has hit it yet this year, but pretty sure I can get him to hit the thing this Thursday...

I will be there this Thursday in the parking lot 8am in a Bright Blue jacket & white pants, (Xterra with "change for a nickel" sticker on it).

peace,
D.

[406]

Nice photos Bodhi.

Radar is looking good, lets hope it stays cold.

[whyturn]

i will be there wednesday. Riding super 7's with my snowboarder buddy. Wearing a grey helmet with many stickers and I will be with my buddy who is like 250 and on a big pow board..........
Change for a nickel.......

[ljm]

if this thing turns out to be as good as it's looking i will be sick tomorrow. anyone want to carpool from the base or somewhere close so i don't have to buy chains tonight? pm me - and we'll figure something out.

[406]

Baldy was really good today. In the ticket line at 0730 and on the lift at 0830. Lot of people out and it got tracked faster than normal, but I never waited in line after 3 opened. Little over foot of new snow and the wind stripped some aspects and loaded others. Sun came out in the afternoon and a lot of stuff got cooked. Stayed inbounds all day because I wasn't impressed with the stability of the new snow. Last run of the day at 1530 was fun, but the snow was spring like on the north facing run on 1.

I think tomorrow one could find skied powder with a few fresh inbound turns on 3 and 4 should corn up nicely.

[Tin Woodsman]

Baldy was really good today. In the ticket line at 0730 and on the lift at 0830. Lot of people out and it got tracked faster than normal, but I never waited in line after 3 opened. Little over foot of new snow and the wind stripped some aspects and loaded others. Sun came out in the afternoon and a lot of stuff got cooked. Stayed inbounds all day because I wasn't impressed with the stability of the new snow. Last run of the day at 1530 was fun, but the snow was spring like on the north facing run on 1.

I think tomorrow one could find skied powder with a few fresh inbound turns on 3 and 4 should corn up nicely.

Ditto. That's exactly what I found.

Good times all over the place, except for the south facing stuff lower down by Ch 1 which got cooked quickly. Man that hill has soul. So many possibilities, nooks and crannies. I look forward to developing some local knowledge there.

[406]

A few photos from yesterday after the sun came out.

A commercial for Coors was being shoot in the parking lot. Big crew and the trucks created some traffic problems in the morning:


Still don't know the name of this run, but it is a favorite:


North face of Telegraph is looking fat:


As is the peak:

[whyturn]

Doesn't anybody work on Wednesday.......
Oh yah, I skipped work for epic socal pow day.....
It was great until 1 pm, but man it was good in the trees..........