Avalanche on Ralston Peak

Location Name: Ralston Peak Region: Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Observation Date & Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - 11:15
Location: 38.831153, -120.099696 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Rapid or Prolonged Warming Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Trigger Points Terrain Traps

Observation made by: Professional Observer

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

After summitting Ralston Peak and descending the NW ridge just after 10am, I ascended Echo Peak. While transitioning on Echo I looked back at Ralston and noticed a recent avalanche that was not there moments before. All my observations are from a couple miles away on Echo Peak. This avalanche apparently occurred naturally at about 11:15am. Zooming in on my photos it appears a chunk of cornice broke off and triggered the slide.

Photo 1: Fresh avalanche in the bowl between Ralston and Baldy/Peak 9155

Photo 2: Zoomed in view from Echo Peak.

Photo 3: Photo of the area of the avalanche from the summit of Ralston about an hour before slide occurred.

Fresh avalanche in the bowl between Ralston and Baldy/Peak 9155

Zoomed in view from Echo Peak.

Photo of the area of the avalanche from the summit of Ralston about an hour before slide.

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Cornice

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Unknown

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Trigger Modifier:

Cornice Fall Triggered

Terrain

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Crown Height:

2 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

75ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

300ft.

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Avalanche on Ralston Peak

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Avalanche on Ralston Peak

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