Avalanche on Mt Reba

Location Name: 
Mt Reba
Region: 
Bear Valley Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sun, 12/30/2012 - 09:15


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
slab,
Slope: 
35degrees
Trigger type: 
Snowboarder
Crown Height: 
3 ft
Aspect: 
Southwest
Avalanche Width: 
400ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
8 400ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
1 500ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

This avalanche occured approx. at 9:15am on 12/30/2012. Two riders-one skier,one boarder set this avalanche in motion via sympathetic actions. The crown fractured approx 30 ft. below the first person on the slope(snowboarder). No one was caught or burried. The avalanche rating scale was 2moderate with no other avalanche activity observed in the area. Both riders were equiped with the proper safety gear, beacons,shovels and probes and had a minimum of a 2-3 years of knowledge on the use of safety gear and in the last few years have been seeking knowledge about safe travel practices and attending local avalanche awareness lectures in the Bear Valley region. As an interesting note.......if you look at the photo, near the top of the avalanche both persons escaped to the ridge on "skiers left" for safety yet failed to stay together for safe travel down and off the slope. One traveled down the falline left of the slide path(right side of ridge) and the other travelled left of said ridge and skied down the right side of the Heart Bowl. Both out of contact(visually) but in contact via personal radios. Upon interviewing the two riders both felt that their critical thinking(once the avalanche occured) went out the window as the size and destructive force left them scared and speechless. Understanding that their actions in hindsight was not good both feel they rode away with an interesting form of education that they will hopefully be able to apply to future outings. 

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

clear skies following a recent multiday snowstorm. Colder temps and recent winds out of the SW to NE aspects to 25mph helped to add wind loading to this aspect/elevation.