Pilot Pinnacle and Mount Diller at Lassen

With heavy hearts we remember the loss of our backcountry brother in Etna this week. We live and move in a beautiful area but risks are around us. I toured the backcountry today with this in mind. The previous storms left a solid layer of new snow that covered the mountain. The morning was brisk, low 20's, with the sun shining. The snow around the visitor center (south entrance) was still cold and soft with no wind at 9:30. I toured up toward Pilot Pinnacle through the Geothermals. The snow was consolidating with minimal signs of instability. There were a lot of different snow conditions from areas of left over powder (5-6 inches) in the colder north aspects to harder wind packed snow to softer corn as the day warmed up. The wind was minimal in the trees and slightly gusty at ridge line between Pilot and Diller. The wind picked up around Ridge Lakes around 1 p.m.  The bowl below Diller was softening to corn-like snow in the afternoon. Small pinwheels were forming, but no signs of slabs seen. 

• Observation Location: Pilot Pinnacle, Mount Diller
• Elevation: 8,834 ft
• Date: 02052021
• Time: 9-2pm
• Observer: Bill R.
• Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR) 
• Current Precipitation: Type - NO 
• Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 1-4 in, boot penetration (PF) = 6 in 
• Wind Direction: N/NW 
• Wind Speed: Calm (C), 0 mi/hr below tree line; light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, at the ridge line