FirePlug Wet Slides

Location Name: 
Fire Plug
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 12:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 19' 28.4556" N, 119° 54' 14.6016" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
wet,loose,
Slope: 
28degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Aspect: 
East
Weak Layer: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Width: 
100ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Elevation: 
9 100ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
350ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
3
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Pictures take at 01:15PM. The area is a combination of 6-7 point releases. Slides appear to be released as a group of skiers entered the run.  Other similar but smaller slides were noticed on the middle of Proletariat Face and Incline Lake Peak at similar aspects and elevations.

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Rapid warming between 9am and noon combined with intense solar radiation on these East faces led to the surface instability that produced these slides.