AIARE 1 Course - Shirley Canyon

Location Name: Shirley Canyon Region: Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Observation Date & Time: Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - 15:00
Location: 39.200291, -120.228882 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises Persistent Problem Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures Terrain Alerts: Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Educator at Alpenglow Expeditions

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Warm temps kept snow upside down below 7000'. Observed new small to medium sized loose wet avalanches coming off of tram ridge on NE aspect ~6800'. Less wind observed than what was forecasted. New cornice formation observed on tram ridge. Multiple whumphs presumably on the persistent weak layer that was found 75cm down on the crust. Overall an upside down snowpack in our travel zone.

Snowpack Details

Total Snow Depth:

120cm

Persistent Weak Layers:

Buried

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Below Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Storm Snow

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

40degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

below-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

50ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

200ft.

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

6000-7000 ft.

Wind Direction:

Northwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Sky Cover:

Broken - Mostly Cloudy - more than 4/8 and less than 8/8

Air temperature:

Above Freezing

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AIARE 1 Course - Shirley Canyon

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AIARE 1 Course - Shirley Canyon

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