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.

Wind Slabs on Elephant’s Back

Location Name: Elephant’s Back Region: Carson Pass Area Observation Date & Time: Friday, January 24, 2020 - 08:00
Location: 38.678542, -119.983277 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 Trigger Points Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Today's plan was to ski Elephant's back. On the tour from carson pass, we noted active wind transporting of snow and sastrugi, but opted to continue on. As we approached the north-east bowl we noticed several naturally triggered wind slab avalanches originating from the steep, cliffy area of the bowl. These avalanches each appeared to have a 1-3" crown. We opted to traverse into the bowl lower than usual in order to avoid slopes greater than 35 degrees. Here we encountered of 1-4 inches of stable, wind blown powder.

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Not observed

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Above Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Wind Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Old Snow

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

45degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D1 Relatively harmless to people.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Avalanche Width (Average width):

15ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

30ft.

People Involved

Number of people caught:

Number of partial burials:

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