The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.

Snowpack Obs on Carpenter Ridge

Location Name: Red Mountain Region: Independence Lake Area Observation Date & Time: Sunday, January 31, 2021 - 02:30
Location: 39.391291, -120.292090 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Persistent Problem Rapid or Prolonged Warming Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Rollerballs / Pinwheels Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Strong Sunshine Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Terrain Traps

Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Touring around Red Mountain Sunday afternoon, we saw several naturally triggered avalanches. they looked partially blown in with new snow but it seems they went late in the big storm. We dug a pit with these results:

Elevation: 7100

Aspect: NE

Total Snow Depth:210 cm

First rain crust (between new snow): 90 CM from ground, Near Crust Facets below this crust failed PST 55/100

Second rain Crust: 80 Cm from ground (this seemed to be healing well)

December 11th facets: PST 45/100 (close to ground, pack seemed very shallow at this point in time)

Snowpack Details

Total Snow Depth:

210cm

Persistent Weak Layers:

Buried

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Below Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Unknown

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D3 Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees.

Relative Size:

R3 Medium

Crown Height:

2 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

60ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

500ft.

People Involved

Number of people caught:

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

7000 - 8000 ft.

Sky Cover:

Few - Mostly Clear - up to 2/8 covered

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature:

Above Freezing

Sponsors:

This website is owned and maintained by the non-profit arm of the Sierra Avalanche Center. Some of the content is updated by the USDA avalanche forecasters including the forecasts and some observational data. The USDA is not responsible for any advertising, fund-raising events/information, or sponsorship information, or other content not related to the forecasts and the data pertaining to the forecasts.

Forecast Links

Subscriptions

Forecast Tutorials

Observations

Incidents

Submit Observations

Subscriptions

Remote Weather Stations

National Weather Service

Model Forecasts

Local Resources

The SAC Daily Flow

Forecast Tutorials

Other Resources

Snowpack Obs on Carpenter Ridge

Conditions Alerts:

Tabs

Sponsors:

Forecast Links

Subscriptions

Forecast Tutorials

Observations

Incidents

Submit Observations

Subscriptions

Remote Weather Stations

National Weather Service

Model Forecasts

Local Resources

The SAC Daily Flow

Forecast Tutorials

Other Resources

Snowpack Obs on Carpenter Ridge

Conditions Alerts:

Tabs

Search form

Follow Us

Sponsors: