Avalanche on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Crater Lake Bowl
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sat, 01/23/2016 - 17:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 1.1712" N, 119° 58' 46.2792" 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: Professional Observer
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Dry
Trigger type: 
Natural
Crown Height: 
2 ft
Aspect: 
North
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width: 
300ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
9 500ft.
Bed Surface: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Length: 
900ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
1
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

This avalanche appeared to have run during Saturday's storm. Total distance was about 900 vertical feet. The crown is in the obvious start zone below the cliffs just below the ridgeline. Total horizontal distance was tough to estimate because of more recent snowfall but is about 300 feet. Flanks of the avalanche were hard to observe due to obscuring by new snow and wind. There is a significant lower angle bench about 300 feet below the crown that the avalanche overan and then ran down over the cliffs in the fore of the photo. 

While this was by far the largest avalanche in the area there were two other natural avalanches below cornices. 

Note: Follow up observations of the 1/17 avalanche on the Crater Lake Road ( http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/fri-01222016-2330-avalanche-below-crater-lake ) didn't reveal evidence of buried surface hoar and no remains of crown or flanks were visible in the start zone. Debris on the road is almost entirely obscured by new snow. Compression tests did not reveal any fractures below the new storm snow. 

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: