Date of Observation: 01/01/2022
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from Mt. CB. Got a window of so-so vis and could see a handful of peaks in the Northwest Mountains and Gothic.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous very destructive avalanches, ranging from D3 to D4 in size. Couldn’t see runouts so making estimates on size based on terrain size, crown size, and amount of snow in tracks and runouts. All of the crowns shown in the photos below look crisp enough that they likely ran yesterday.
Photos:
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Crown on Gothic
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East face of Gothic
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NE face of Hancock
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NE face of Richmond
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Schuylkill Ridge
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Gothic Mountain
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: R4 large
Destructive Size: D4 – could destroy a railcar, large truck, buildings, or swaths of forest
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: East face of Gothic
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Gothic Mountain
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:
Destructive Size: D3 – could destroy a car, wood-frame house, or snap trees
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: The cirque that drains to Judd Falls TH.
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Oh-Be-Joyful Basin
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: R5 very large
Destructive Size: D4 – could destroy a railcar, large truck, buildings, or swaths of forest
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Hancock NE face
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Oh-Be-Joyful Basin
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:
Destructive Size: D3.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: East sub feature of Hancock
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Poverty Gulch (Pittsburg, Augusta, Baxter Basin)
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: R4 large
Destructive Size: D4 – could destroy a railcar, large truck, buildings, or swaths of forest
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Richmond NE face
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