The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.

Natural Avalanches in the Silver and Poulsen Peaks Area

Location Name: Silver and Poulsen Peaks Region: Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Observation Date & Time: Sunday, December 4, 2022 - 02:00
Location: 39.214810, -120.241560 See map: CalTopo	Is this an Avalanche Observation?: Yes Conditions Alerts: Avalanche Activity Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks Persistent Problem Recent Loading Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow Recent Loading›Rain on 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:

Silver and Poulsen Peaks

Region:

Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area

Observation Date & Time:

Sunday, December 4, 2022 - 02:00

Location:

39.214810, -120.241560

See map: CalTopo

Is this an Avalanche Observation?:

Yes

Conditions Alerts:

Avalanche Activity
Other Signs of Instability (cracking, whumpfing, collapsing)›Shooting Cracks
Persistent Problem
Recent Loading
Recent Loading›More Than a Foot of New Snow
Recent Loading›Rain on 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: Forecaster

Tabs

Observation

Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions:

While touring around lower-elevation, low-angle areas near Silver Peak on 12/6, we saw at least five old natural avalanches near Silver and Poulsen Peaks. These were mostly filled in with snow, indicating that they likely occurred during the night on Saturday, 12/3, or early morning on Sunday, 12/4. We observed them all from a distance, but they all looked like persistent slab avalanches. They all occurred in steep N-NE facing terrain.

Partially filled in avalanches on NE aspects of a peak between Silver and Poulsen Peak

Mostly filled in persistent slab avalanche on N facing terrain on Silver peak

Mostly filled in persistent slab avalanche on NNE facing terrain on Silver peak

Snowpack Details

Persistent Weak Layers:

Buried

Terrain Details

Terrain: elevations:

Near Treeline

Below Treeline

Terrain: aspects:

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Type:

Persistent Slab

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Old Snow

Additional number of similar avalanches:

Trigger

Trigger:

Natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

35degrees

Aspect:

Northeast

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

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Natural Avalanches in the Silver and Poulsen Peaks Area

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Natural Avalanches in the Silver and Poulsen Peaks Area

Conditions Alerts:

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