Avalanche close call in Bronco chutes, mt.rose

Location Name: 
Bronco chutes
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sun, 12/18/2016 - 13:12


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Dry
Slab
Slope: 
35degrees
Trigger type: 
Unknown
Aspect: 
Northeast
Weak Layer: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Width: 
50ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
8 500ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
1 500ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

We witnessed a large avalanche in the bronco area at Mt. Rose today. I would call it chute #1 , it ripped top to bottom at high speed with 3-4 ft deposit into the trees. Strong uphill wind loading was suspect, but it also propagated to the bed layer. We saw multiple old crowns at 2-3 ft . There was an early out skin track up this gully from the previous day that got wiped out completely . 

 

 

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
None