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Multiple Dry Loose Avalanche - Horse Canyon

Location Name: Horse Canyon Region: Bear Valley Area Observation Date & Time: Saturday, February 20, 2021 - 13:30
Location: 38.495473, -120.029755 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Terrain Alerts: Slopes Steeper than 30 degrees Trigger Points Terrain Traps

Observation made by: Public

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Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

Our group traveled Horse Canyon today adjacent to Bear Valley Ski Resort during an avalanche level 1 course. We witnessed over 6 naturally occurring dry loose avalanches on NE - NW slopes greater than 35 degrees. Additionally, our group was able to set off another dozen skier-triggered dry loose avalanches up to D1 in size on the same aspects and steepness.

Dry Loose avalanches were touchy and ran further than expected on the Feb 19th rain crust. All releases were 3-6 inches in depth but probing revealed some steep wind-loaded rollovers had new snow depths greater than 1 foot.

Avalanche Details

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

35degrees

Aspect:

North

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D1 Relatively harmless to people.

Relative Size:

R2 Small

Crown Height:

Less than 1 ft

Weather Details

Elevation of Observation:

8000 - 9000 ft.

Blowing Snow:

Light

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Sky Cover:

Few - Mostly Clear - up to 2/8 covered

Precipitation:

None

Air temperature:

Below Freezing

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Multiple Dry Loose Avalanche - Horse Canyon

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Multiple Dry Loose Avalanche - Horse Canyon

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