Human triggered avalanches on Tamarack Peak

Location Name: 
Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Wed, 12/12/2012 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 46.98" N, 119° 54' 44.1072" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
dry,slab,
Slope: 
45degrees
Trigger type: 
Snowboarder
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Aspect: 
Northeast
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width: 
200ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Elevation: 
9 320ft.
Bed Surface: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Length: 
50ft.
Number of similar avalanches: 
2
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

It is unclear if this was one avalanche or a few small avalanches with crowns that ultimately joined together. Trigger was either a snowboarder or intentional cornice collapse. Failure layer was a thin layer of lower density snow (4F) under a higher density wind slab (4F to 1F).

Avalanche observation video: 

20121212 Tamarack Pk 005

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: