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Wet loose avalanche activity on Red Lake Peak

Location Name: Red lake peak Region: Carson Pass Area Observation Date & Time: Friday, April 30, 2021 - 13:20
Location: 38.716668, -119.978566 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity 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 Trigger Points

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Hiked up to crater lake to ski the north east bowl. Observed rapidly warming snow with soft/slushy storm snow on top of a firmer layer underneath. Northeast bowl showed wide spread wet loose activity on slopes over 30 degrees and near rocks. Evidence of prior wet slab activity also evident.

We made our way to the NE bowl over a rock field and tossed snow balls on the steeper slopes below us. Caused significant build up on way down as pictured.

ski conditions were sticky and sub par

Patchy snow coverage starting at around 8000’ where we transitioned from hiking to skinning

Widespread roller ball and point release activity in NE bowl

Threw a small snow ball that result in a large loose/wet slide on a roughly 35 degree start zone

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Not observed

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Above Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Storm Snow

Additional number of similar avalanches:

More than 10

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

30degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D1 Relatively harmless to people.

Crown Height:

10 ft

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

8000 - 9000 ft.

Above 9000 ft.

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Sky Cover:

Few - Mostly Clear - up to 2/8 covered

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature:

Above Freezing

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Wet loose avalanche activity on Red Lake Peak

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Wet loose avalanche activity on Red Lake Peak

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