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Wet Snow Avalanche Activity on Mt. Rose

Submitted by steve on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 3:41pm
Location Name: 
Incline Lake Area
Region: 
Mount Rose Area

Location

United States
39° 17' 41.1432" N, 119° 55' 36.9012" W
See map: Google Maps
Position: 
Professional Observer
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:30am
Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Wet
Avalanche Type: 
Loose/Point-Release
Trigger type: 
Skier
Slope: 
40degrees
Aspect: 
Southeast
Elevation: 
9750ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Width: 
40ft.
Avalanche Length: 
500ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Avalanche Photos: 
Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
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.

 

Weather Observations
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
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