Skier Triggered Wet Slide in Lakes Basin, Sierra County

Location Name: 
Above Saxonia Lake
Region: 
Outside of the Forecast Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sat, 04/07/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 36' 50.9472" N, 120° 38' 27.1284" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
wet,
Trigger type: 
Skier
Aspect: 
Northeast
Avalanche Width: 
40ft.
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
7 100ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
300ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Skier's first turn triggered a fairly large wet snow slide entraining 2-4 inches of newly melted snow on top of a supportable crust.  Skier was able to get ahead of the relatively slow moving slide and made it to a safe zone.  It's easy to imagine how the accumulating mass of heavy, wet moving snow could complicate matters in the presence of a terrain trap.

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
South
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: