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 in Ward Canyon

Location Name: Ward Canyon ("Avagator" gully) Region: Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area Observation Date & Time: Monday, December 16, 2019 - 11:45
Location: 39.120549, -120.235274 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Terrain Traps

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Skier triggered avalanche in the Avagator gully north of Twin Peaks. Avalanche started small, entrained lots of snow and stepped down about 12" in the bottom of the gully about 2/3 of the way down the slide path.

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Not observed

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Near Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Other

Trigger

Trigger:

Skier

Trigger Modifier:

Accidentally Triggered

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

40degrees

Aspect:

North

Starting Elevation:

7,900'

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):

75ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

350ft.

People Involved

Number of people caught:

Number of partial burials:

Number of full burials:

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Avalanche in Ward Canyon

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Avalanche in Ward Canyon

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