Wind Slab Avalanches

Location Name: Lincoln Peak Region: Donner Summit Area Observation Date & Time: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - 10:00
Location: 39.288552, -120.319836 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)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Trigger Points Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Photo is of large natural windslab. Below and right of the photo, a snowboarder triggered a wind slab avalanche in an opening below treeline on a convex rollover. Avalanche broke well above him and rapidly spiderwebbed but he was able to ride out uscatched due to the short slope and speed he was carrying. Touchy, slabby snow out there today with wind affected snow well below treeline.

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Unknown

Trigger

Trigger:

Snowboarder

Trigger Modifier:

Accidentally Triggered

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

34degrees

Aspect:

East

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Avalanche Width (Average width):

100ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

100ft.

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