Eastern Sierra Avalanche Advisory 12/12/2025

As we wait for winter to start in earnest, it’s worth noting that the areas with the best skiing and riding coverage are generally the same places where isolated instabilities may be found. Areas of greatest concern are leeward slopes near and above treeline where a wind-drifted slab overlies weak faceted grains and crusts. This structure has been responsible for all the avalanche activity we have seen so far this season, including a skier-triggered avalanche that occurred at 10,600’ on Mt Olsen in Virginia Lakes.   Thankfully, the involved party skied away uninjured and shared a thoughtful account of their experience for the benefit of the greater community.  If you missed it, you can view it here: 11/30 Olsen Avalanche.

No new snow has been measured in the forecast area in nearly three weeks.  Skies have been mostly clear, temperatures have ranged from well below to well above freezing, and winds have been strong at times from both the southwest and northeast.  Dry weather continues through this weekend, with mostly light winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Conditions in the Eastern Sierra are variable and increasingly shallow. If you decide to head out for some turns, you are likely to find a wide variety of conditions, often all in the same run.  In exposed areas near and above tree line (NTL and ATL), the wind has blown old snow back and forth and left few slopes unscathed.  In protected areas near and below tree line (NTL and BTL), you can still find areas with soft, recrystallized snow (facets), though these areas are becoming increasingly harder to find.  The snow lines continue to rise, further limiting the combination of adequate coverage and tolerable snow surfaces.  With a generally stagnant weather forecast, you can expect the current surface conditions to continue through this weekend. The long-range forecast indicates a potential change in the pattern by mid to late next week. It’s still a bit far out to say for sure, but polish up your snow dances and hope for a White Christmas. We will update this advisory as conditions change.

·      To review current observations or submit a new one, visit the observation page

Full Forecast ➝

This information is provided by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions. It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.