Avalanche at Sierra Crest

Guides day off skiing at Silver Peak today. North aspects near and below treeline were a little wind effected but still skiied well. Ridgetop North winds were transporting snow (see photo #4) but the north aspect terrain right off the ridges were still soft and not breakable. Once off the ridgetops ski quality improved throughout the majority of our runs on the NE bowl zone. Tree drips and sun softened snow was making for some slow snow in pockets as the day progressed though. 

Visible from the ridgetop above the NE bowl was a large avalanche on one of the main peaks above the Pole Creek drainage (the one with the prominent cliff bands- no name on maps). Some snow had covered the debris suggesting that the avalanche occurred before snowfall started during the most recent storm on Tuesday 2/2/21. We were not close enough to measure crown height but it appears substantial- possibly over 10' in some places. Position in the range suggests that it could have failed on the 1/24 surface hoar layer as it would have been sheltered from the light SW winds that afternoon before snowfall started. (photo 1+2). Stauchwall is visible- pretty cool right?!

Also visible from that same vantage point was an additional avalanche on the ENE aspect of Lyon Peak (I think?). Zoomed in photo shows the crown and debris that appears to be covered with snow from the recent storm on 2/2. Suggests the avalanche failed on 1/31-ish. (photo 3)