| AVALANCHE OBSERVATION Dana Plateau, Ripper Chute Drainage: |
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| Submission Info Saturday, March 23, 2019 - 11:30pm |
Red Flags:
Recent avalanche activity
Obvious avalanche path
Avalanche Type:
Slab
Slope:
40degrees
Trigger type:
Other - explain below
Crown Height:
2 ft
Aspect:
Northeast
Weak Layer:
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width:
20ft.
Terrain:
Above Treeline
Elevation:
11 600ft.
Bed Surface:
Old Snow
Avalanche Length:
1 000ft.
Blowing Snow:
Yes
Cloud Cover:
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Wind Speed:
Strong
Precipitation:
Snow
Air temperature trend:
Static
Wind Direction:
Southeast
Accumulation rate:
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather:
Very bad visablitly and increasing snow and wind throughout the day.
Number of People Caught:
2
The Ripper Chute, Dana Plateau
37° 55' 22.6812" N, 119° 12' 58.4172" W
See map: Google Maps
ESAC receives support from ...
me and my partner witnessed/experienced a D2 R3 full course slab avalanche in the Ripper Chute on the Dana Plateau on March 23 at approximatley 11:30am. Skies were overcast and temps below freezing. One snow traveler was able to self arrest while the lower climber 10' below was swept the entire course of the couloir. After sustaining minor injuries it was assesed that the climbers splitboard was buried in the debris and the snow taveler/climber walked/glissaded on a shovel out to the trailhead. The said snowtraveler will be very interested in finding the said buried spitboard. Or it may be hung up on rocks higher in the Couloir...