AVALANCHE OBSERVATION Red Lake Bowl / Black Mtn Drainage: |
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Submission Info D Lewis Forecaster Friday, January 19, 2018 - 6:45pm |
Red Flags:
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Avalanche Type:
Dry
Loose/Point-Release
Slope:
40degrees
Trigger type:
Natural
Aspect:
North
Weak Layer:
Storm Snow
Terrain:
Above Treeline
Elevation:
11 000ft.
Bed Surface:
Storm Snow
Number of similar avalanches:
5
Number of partial burials:
0
Number of full burials:
0
Blowing Snow:
No
Cloud Cover:
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Wind Speed:
Light
Precipitation:
None
Air temperature trend:
Cooling
Wind Direction:
West
Accumulation rate:
None
More detailed information about the weather:
A surprisingly uniform 10 to 20 cm / 4 to 8 inches of low-density (~5%*) new snow throughout most of the basin. Snow appears to have fallen primarily post-frontal passage with minimal wind effect or slab tendencies from treeline and below. Wind ranged from calm to light westerly. No current blowing snow and little evidence of recent transported snow, snow surface was mostly uniform (+). Some previous crossloading noted on N thru NE aspects in the Alpine from light westerly winds.
Number of People Caught:
0
Red Lake Bowl / Black Mtn
37° 54' 37.0512" N, 118° 22' 35.7132" W
See map: Google Maps
At the trailhead, noted a few small sloughs originating from very steep and rocky terrain on N to NE aspects on Mt. Owen and the headwall above Red Lake, primarily along ridgelines (11,000+), likely early during snow onset, running short distances. Debris was covered with an additional ~10cm/ 4 inches of new snow. Numerous test slopes on NW – N – E aspects, elevation ranging from 11200’ to 9800’ produced minimal results with only small soughs where the snow is disturbed.