Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Avalanche Danger

I have read numerous posts that refer to the "high avalanche danger" on Whitney in the wintertime. I was under the impression there are very few avalanches that occur on the mountain. My personal experience has always been when the snow has been well condensed and the danger minimal. Am I misinformed or are others blowing smoke?

We climbed the East face of Thor peak within weeks of a big avalanch that broke off 10 inch trees and left lots of debris in its wake, a few years back in early May. I have spoken with others who who have witnessed small avalanches on the numberous slopes you pass on the MR. They may not be big ones that travel thousands of feet (like the one in Aspen grove in Utah that killed the three snowboarders). But there are numerous small slides from time to time that could get you...like the one we passed up on the North slope of Thor early in the summer. A post described almost getting caught in it last May. You have to be carefull and observant. Be safe and pay attention.

Well, it depends on mostly the snow year. Someone posted photos of an avalanche earlier this year. If there's not much snow, the danger is low, of course. But when you get "feet" of snow, there is an inherent instability. How often this happens on Whitney, I don't know. But in 1986, a big snow year, there was a massive slide that knocked down entire stands of trees, and destroyed the ranger station in Onion Valley.

It only takes a relatively small slide to kill you. Some seem to take them as rare events, which maybe they are. But one skier is presumed dead on Castle Peak, just right now, from a slide that wasn't really big. When you know the scale of Castle Peak (9,103') and surroundings versus Whitney, it's a tremendous difference. Look for avalanche chutes, a common sight in the High Sierra. I'd say there are dozens along the Whitney Trail. I've only seen a light powder avalanche occuring, as far as that goes, but for us winter/spring Sierrans, we've seen plenty of debris and tracks. Like with a car crash (rare), you'd better have had your seat belts on (safety)!

Peter, well-condensed snow is certainly a factor. Problem is, though, that takes some time to occur. Right now, the snow is uncondensed, and there have been numerous trip reports where people talk about the difficulty walking through the champaign powder. It may be overly simplistic, but I'd think that if there is not enough solid crust to support your weight, to a large degree, when you walk on snow, it is (at least the top layer) not condensed (or consolidated, another way of saying it).

In the springtime, when the snowpack is melting out, the snow is very consolidated, but that is when "wet slides" occur, a different process.

For good discussions of the dynamics of avalanche conditions, www.mountwashington.org has under the weather heading the Forest Service daily postings for avalanche hazard in that area. Obviously the daily conditions don't mean anything directly for you out there, but the discussions of why there is danger on a particular day are informative. Slopes of 30 degrees (sometimes a bit less) or more combined with poorly bonded layers, windslab, etc are the ingredients. A firm appearing surface of windslab can be deadly. I'd think that the Whitney area would be replete with avalanche danger areas, lots of steep lee slopes.

Hi Peter, this website gives you an overall indication of the avalanche situation in the Eastern Sierra. The warning just went from high (last week's storms)to considerable. However, you still need to make your own assessment of the slopes you are going to climb - regardless of the warning.

http://www.csac.org/Bulletins/Calif/e-sierra.html

Hi Peter, from the gist of the replies everyone seems to be in agreement that care is needed to travel the backcountry in snow conditions.
Note that neither 'feet of snow' nor 'sliding layer' are in themselves reliable to predict avi's. I thought I knew a lot from guiding for years in the alpine environment, then did a stint with a very experienced national ski patroller, and a ski patroller from New Zea. They taught me two main things:
1. read/study all you can on the subject
2. hang-out or take courses from those that know

P.S. none of my fiends/family go into the backcountry to ski/climb without everyone having an avi beacon AND knowing how to use it.
Cheers,
Michael Dong
Expedition Adventures

The Sierra Nevada has very high average annual snowfall, plenty of slopes exceeding 30 degrees, aloing with a fair bit of wind. Major hanging cornices form in many locations along the crest. Avalanches do happen in the Whitney area and slide scars are plainly visible from the trail. I have seen very many wet snow point releases during the spring.

Definitely dig a pit and do a shear test before venturing into avalanche country. All it takes is one thin weak layer under a thick, well-consolidated layer to ruin your day.

Matt's recent report from Jan 2 mentions small slides due to heavy snowfall below LBSL - low on the mountain you wouldn't expect to see much Avalanching. He also saw many Avalanches up higher on the mountain with binoculars...Kind of interesting. That would be consistent with the heavy snow just preceeding that time. Without this board you might not be reading first hand of the Winter Avalanch danger unless someone got killed or ended up lost.

I was with Matt on Jan 2nd and the conditions were very dangerous. I didn't have any previous experience in the Sierras and was not expecting avalanche danger to be significant. Was I wrong! We met another party on the morning of the storm. He reported that the previous day he had gone up the main trail to Trail Crest and hear "whomping" noises from adjoining slopes. Then he heard the same from the slope he was on and it dropped 6 inches. These are very bad signs of instability.

On the MR Jan 2nd the slopes were dangerous where we were, relatively low, and we could see that there would be severe wind loading on the higher slopes. I also remember reading later that a few people were caught in similar conditions OB at Mammoth and one of the snowboarders died.

It is important to have the proper training and equipment with you anytime you're out in the winter mountains. However in addition, awareness and good judgment may keep you from having to use the beacons and shovels.

Thank you Chuck & Matt for your report on winter conditions. Many times I have thought "winter on Whitney would be so beautiful" This brings me back to reality and the danger which would be present up there. I will wait until closer to summer when it will be safer. It seems obvious winter poses special risks.