Report from Truckee Summit/Independence Lake Area

Location Name: 
Bear Meadows
Region: 
Independence Lake Area
Observation Date & Time: 
Sunday, January 26, 2020 - 14:00
Location: 
39.430805, -120.422556
See map: CalTopo
Is this an Avalanche Observation?: 
Yes


Conditions Alerts:

  • Avalanche Activity
  • Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)
  • Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks
  • Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures
  • Recent Loading
  • Recent Loading›Rain on Snow
Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Observation
Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions: 
  • Webber Lake to Bear Meadows: 7k ft. N aspect. 1200 hours. Failing on new/old snow interface. Shooting cracks from snowmobile cut.
  • Webber Lake to Bear Meadows, 7.2k ft. NE aspect. 1240 hours. Natural Loose wet avalanche activity witnessed. Storm snow heavy and wet but riding was good. 
  • 1/4 mile South of Bear Meadows. 8k feet. N aspect. 1400 hours. 255cm hs. Jan 4th crust present but unreactive and showed no instability on test slope 

 

 

Hide Snowpack Details
Total Snow Depth: 
255cm
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Buried
Hide Terrain Details
Terrain: elevations: 
Near Treeline
Terrain: aspects: 
N
Hide Avalanche Details
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Additional number of similar avalanches: 
2
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
Natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Northeast
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
15ft.
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
200ft.
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