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Avalanche Activity

Location Name: Round Valley Region: Bear Valley Area Observation Date & Time: Saturday, February 9, 2019 - 13:15
Location: 38.494331, -120.030252 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing) Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks Recent Loading Recent Loading›Blowing Snow Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow Recent Loading›Snowfall Rates of More Than 1 in/hr Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Trigger Points Terrain Traps Terrain Matches the Advisory

Location Name:

Round Valley

Region:

Bear Valley Area

Observation Date & Time:

Saturday, February 9, 2019 - 13:15

Location:

38.494331, -120.030252

See map: CalTopo

Is this an Avalanche Observation?:

Yes

Conditions Alerts:

Avalanche Activity
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Collapsing / whumpfing noises
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks
Recent Loading
Recent Loading›Blowing Snow
Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow
Recent Loading›Snowfall Rates of More Than 1 in/hr

Terrain Alerts:

Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees

Obvious Slide Path

Trigger Points

Terrain Traps

Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Guide at California Ski Guides

Tabs

Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

While guiding an avalanche course near Bear Valley Ski Resort we witness several natural D1 and one D2 avalanches. We were able to remotely trigger one cornice collapse from about 25 meters. Crown varied from 8 to 18 inches in depth running on the new snow interface. All we on wind loaded slopes consistant with wind slab. The largest was 50 meters across and ran an unknown distance down into trees.

Other Red Flags seen in the area included severe wind loading, collapsing and shooting collapse of more than 20 meters.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph:

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Not observed

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Near Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Additional number of similar avalanches:

More than 10

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

35degrees

Aspect:

North

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Crown Height:

1 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

30ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

200ft.

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

7000 - 8000 ft.

Blowing Snow:

Intense

Wind Direction:

Northeast

Wind Speed:

Strong

Sky Cover:

Overcast - Cloudy - 8/8 covered

Highest Precipitation Rate:

Moderate Snowfall (S2 = 2 cm /~1 in per hour)

Precipitation:

Snow

Air temperature:

Below Freezing

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