Alpenglow AIARE 2 Andesite Ridge

Location Name: 
Andesite Ridge
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Observation Date & Time: 
Saturday, March 11, 2023 - 14:00
Location: 
39.344186, -120.353915
See map: CalTopo
Is this an Avalanche Observation?: 
Yes


Conditions Alerts:

  • Avalanche Activity
  • Recent Loading
  • Recent Loading›Blowing Snow
  • Recent Loading›Rain on Snow
  • Recent Loading›Snowfall Rates of More Than 1 in/hr
Observation made by: Educator at Alpenglow Expeditions

Tabs

Observation
Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions: 

We toured Andesite Ridge to observe how new snow was accumlating and affecting the current snowpack. Wx obs at TH @ 10:30 AM: X, S1, C, 0*C

Dug pit @ 12:30 PM @ 7,780' on E aspect. CTH Q2 @55 cm down x2, ECTX

Continued up ridge to look at old avy debris from yesterday. Noticed new cornice and wind slab formation in the same location. Winds, blowing snow, and snowfall rates increased significantly near & above treeline and visability decreased. We were able to intentionally trigger small wind slab avalanches of new snow. Avoided avy terrain on descent. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Hide Snowpack Details
Total Snow Depth: 
290cm
Hide Avalanche Details
Avalanche Type: 
Wind Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Additional number of similar avalanches: 
1
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
Skier
Trigger Modifier: 
Intentionally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
East
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
200ft.
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
100ft.
Hide People Involved
Number of people caught: 
0
Number of partial burials: 
0
Number of full burials: 
0
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