| AVALANCHE OBSERVATION Hemlock Ridge Drainage: |
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| Submission Info Josh Feinberg Forecaster Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 2:00pm |
Red Flags:
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Avalanche Type:
Dry
Slab
Slope:
36degrees
Trigger type:
Skier
Crown Height:
1 ft
Aspect:
Northeast
Weak Layer:
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width:
75ft.
Terrain:
Above Treeline
Elevation:
10 400ft.
Bed Surface:
Storm Snow
Number of partial burials:
0
Number of full burials:
0
Avalanche Photos:
Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph:
Blowing Snow:
Yes
Cloud Cover:
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Wind Speed:
Moderate
Precipitation:
Snow
Wind Direction:
West
Accumulation rate:
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather:
Periodic snowfall reaching S1-2 throughout day, W winds with moderate gusts in exposed areas below tree line and above. ~3-4"+ new snow from last night / today in sheltered areas, wind filled in skin track and other tracks where exposed quickly.
Number of People Caught:
0
37° 44' 34.9764" N, 119° 6' 6.4044" W
See map: Google Maps
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Avalanche triggered just on leeward side of subtle cross-slope rib. While travelling and probing I felt a subtle density change within underlying storm snow, stoped and dug a test pit: ECTP6 27cm down under subtle denser layer of wind deposited snow. Stomp with ski a few feet further out from rib resulted in crack propogating across slope. 8-12" crown propogated ~75' out across slope. R2-D2. Couldn't tell how far avalanche ran as it went out of site over convexity.
I didn't find concerning snowpack structure or signs of instability anywhere before this point on my ascent today, besides the obvious heads-up of snow blowing that kept me keenly alert and on the look-out.