Recent natural avalanche on Freel

Location Name: 
Freel Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 15:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 51' 30.7188" N, 119° 53' 50.6076" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
loose,
Slope: 
40degrees
Trigger type: 
Natural
Aspect: 
Northeast
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Width: 
500ft.
Terrain: 
Above Treeline
Elevation: 
10 400ft.
Bed Surface: 
Storm Snow
Avalanche Length: 
1 000ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

Loose snow avalanche appears to have initiated in rocks during 1/24 warming (sled tracks are from today, 1/25). Depth of failure minimal, but due to bench acting as terrain trap, 3+ meters of deposition accumulated. Depth of debris just above trees (pic 3) measured at ~200cm. Other areas probed showed resistance to full depth of probe (300cm). Note debris pile extends far to looker's right in pics 1 and 2. Avalanche track obscured by wind transport. R2 D3.

Mitt pits, probing, and ski cuts adjacent to start zone showed no continued instability today, even though rapid warming similar to yesterday was observed.

No density inversions observed in this area.

Avalanche Photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: