The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.

Unstable conditions at Powderhouse

Location Name: Powder House Region: Carson Pass Area Observation Date & Time: Saturday, January 14, 2023 - 11:30
Location: 38.786594, -119.979542 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: No Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing) Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow Recent Loading›Snowfall Rates of More Than 1 in/hr Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees

Location Name:

Powder House

Region:

Carson Pass Area

Observation Date & Time:

Saturday, January 14, 2023 - 11:30

Location:

38.786594, -119.979542

See map: CalTopo

Is this an Avalanche Observation?:

Conditions Alerts:

Avalanche Activity
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks
Recent Loading
Recent Loading›Blowing Snow
Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow
Recent Loading›Snowfall Rates of More Than 1 in/hr

Terrain Alerts:

Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees

Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

We went touring on Powderhouse looking to stay in low angle terrain during our skin up and assess the conditions for descent. While skinning we encountered 3 small crowns that were likely wind slabs that slid yesterday.

A couple hundred feet after seeing the crowns I heard a whumph but couldn't see any shooting cracks (which could be due to the snowfall rate).

We found a small isolated test slope and gave it a couple kicks from above to see how the snow would react. We observed shooting cracks consistently on our kicks of the test slope.

Based on our obs we stayed in tightly treed low angle terrain for our descent.

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Below Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

New/old snow interface

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Unknown

Size

Destructive Size:

D1 Relatively harmless to people.

Relative Size:

R1 Very Small

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

30ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

30ft.

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Unstable conditions at Powderhouse

Conditions Alerts:

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Unstable conditions at Powderhouse

Conditions Alerts:

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