major sluffing on flagpole

Location Name: 
flagpole
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 04/01/2012 - 08:32
Location Map: 
United States
38° 50' 48.1848" N, 120° 3' 20.4624" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

 8-16 new, no wind affect, 8:30 am decsent with major surface dry sluff running from the top roll over and running full length of gully to just above willows. entrained all new snow, but with no propagation. skied it fast, using double fall line for sluff management. deposition max of 18", spread over 1000 vert ft

sluff speed estimate in 30mph range

made a major mess of slope as well as serious hazard to uphill traffic {no safe ascent route}.  This area would be deadly with any heating today, we were lucky!!

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: