Wet Snow Avalanche Activity on Mt. Rose

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Area
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 41.1432" N, 119° 55' 36.9012" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
wet,loose,
Slope: 
40degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Aspect: 
Southeast
Avalanche Width: 
40ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Elevation: 
9 750ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
500ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

I was in the Incline Lake area on S-NE aspects at elevations between 8400'-10,000'.  Lots of sun and warming temps throughout the day with light west winds that kept things cool only on top of the peaks.  There is an efficient bed surface crust on S-E aspects with the remaining snow from the last storm cycle on top of that crust.  Depending on exposure/elevation some S aspects have a ski supportable crust on the surface already but that varies considerably.  SE and E aspects have 4-8'' of old storm snow on top of a pencil hard crust, these aspects seemed to be the most reactive today.  NE and N aspects do not have the crust below the storm snow and are still skiing very well with good unconsolidated snow.  Sticky snow on S aspects by mid day.

 

Photo #1,2, 3: Wet slide avalanche from a ski cut on top of a 40 degree gully.  Looking up from midslope, looking down from midslope and looking up at deposition area.  Entrained lots of snow and ran down until the slope angle eased off.  Debris pile approximately 1-3' deep, not enough for a burial but enough to potentially ruin your day.  60' wide by 500' long and 4-6'' deep.

Photo #4: Many natural point releases in this area below 9900' on E and SE aspects by noon.

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: