Loose Wet Snow Sluffs and Large Pinwheels on Becker Ridge

Location Name: 
Becker Ridge
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Wed, 03/05/2014 - 13:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 53.3172" N, 120° 3' 18.3456" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Rapid warming
Observation made by: Forecaster
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Wet
Loose/Point-Release
Slope: 
40degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Crown Height: 
1 ft
Aspect: 
North
Weak Layer: 
Other
Avalanche Width: 
10ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Elevation: 
8 000ft.
Bed Surface: 
Other - explain below
Avalanche Length: 
30ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
5-10
Number of people caught: 
0
Number of partial burials: 
0
Number of full burials: 
0
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

4 to 8 inches of wet, heavy, unconsolidated snow existed on all aspects up to at least 8500 ft along the Becker/Talking ridge today. Ski cuts on steep test slopes triggered loose wet snow sluffs at all elevations. These sluffs entrained all of the wet snow. Small cornice pieces dropped onto steep test slopes would trigger sluffs and large pinwheels (see the video). Some of these pinwheels picked up snow from below the wet surface layers and grew to 6-8 ft in diameter. 

Photos 1 & 2: A 6 ft. diameter pinwheel and 8-12 inch deep sluff triggered by a small cornice piece (college refrigerator sized) dropped onto a steep N facing test slope at the coordinates attached to this observation.

Photo 3: Debris from a wet snow sluff triggered by a ski cut on a steep NE facing test slope at around 7600 ft. 

Avalanche Photos: 
Avalanche observation video: 

VID 20140305 121902

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Winds picked up around 1:30 pm.