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 crown in Desolation

Location Name: Above Snow Lake Region: Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) Observation Date & Time: Thursday, December 16, 2021 - 02:26
Location: 38.904898, -120.108718 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Persistent Problem Recent Loading Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Obvious Slide Path Trigger Points Terrain Traps Terrain Matches the Advisory

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Toured up the west shore and got eyes into Desolation and saw this large avalanche crown in steep northeast facing terrain above Snow Lake. It appears to have propagated across the rocky cirque. Assuming it was triggered naturally during the most recent storm since it wasn't filled in. Saw one other small avalanche crown in steep northeast facing rocky terrain.
No other signs of instabilities were seen during our tour. Some settlement is starting to occur around trees.

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Persistent Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Unknown

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

40degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R3 Medium

Avalanche Width (Average width):

400ft.

Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):

400ft.

People Involved

Number of people caught:

Number of partial burials:

Number of full burials:

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Avalanche crown in Desolation

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Avalanche crown in Desolation

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