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

Avalanche on Elephants Back

Location Name: NE Face of Elephants Back Region: Carson Pass Area Observation Date & Time: Thursday, December 9, 2021 - 15:03
Location: 38.679042, -119.982730 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Trigger Points Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

This was a natural avalanche. There was not an obvious cornice trigger. There was the remnant of another avalanche from earlier in the day that had been filled in lookers right. At the ridge winds were consistently blowing snow and refilling the avalanche path. Previous skin tracks on ridge were almost fully covered. Temps with wind chill were in the teens.

D2 wind slab naturally triggered

Filled in skin track from earlier in the day.

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Old Snow

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

45degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R3 Medium

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

50ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

600ft.

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

Above 9000 ft.

Blowing Snow:

Intense

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Sky Cover:

Scattered - Partly Cloudy - 3/8 to 4/8 covered

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature:

Below Freezing

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