Date of Observation: 12/09/2022
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Augusta to Purple to Yule Pass.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Large recent natural avalanches on west side of Augusta, northeast side of Blob and Purple, and east sides of Purple and Angel Pass. Most of these looked like persistent slabs that ran in the last few days, a couple may have been storm slabs.
Photos:
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West side of Augusta
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East side of Angel Pass
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NE side of Purple Ridge
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NE side of Purple Mountain
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Purple Mountain
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NE side of the Blob
Estimated avalanche date: 12/06/2022
Number of Avalanches: 4
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Purple Mtn and Purple Ridge
Estimated avalanche date: 12/08/2022
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: The blob. Fresh bedsurface
Estimated avalanche date: 12/06/2022
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Poverty Gulch (Pittsburg, Augusta, Baxter Basin)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Unknown
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Angel Pass
Estimated avalanche date: 12/06/2022
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Purple Mtn E face
Estimated avalanche date: 12/08/2022
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: The Blob, fresh bedsurface/crown
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