Date of Observation: 12/04/2022
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Pavement avalanche obs.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A few natural avalanches from east and northeast aspects of Whetstone and Gothic Mountain. The Gothic avalanche clearly is big enough to bury a person(D2) and a couple on Whetstone looked to be large(D2) as well, but visibility was poor so made my best estimates on size.
Weather: Mostly cloudy conditions in the early afternoon when I made the observation.
Snowpack:
Photos:
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A large natural avalanche on the east side of Gothic Mountain.
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A pair of avalanches in Main Bowl of Whetstone (east and northeast aspects). These appear to be large enough to bury a person.
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Natural avalanche from a northeast slope near the Claw on Whetstone.
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A couple natural avalanches on northeast-facing slopes of Hidden Lake Bowl on Whetstone. My best guess would be large enough to bury a person.
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Natural avalanche on northeast feature on down valley end of Whetstone.
Estimated avalanche date: 12/02/2022
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D1.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Octagon zone and Claw zone
Estimated avalanche date: 12/02/2022
Number of Avalanches: 3
Location
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
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: Hidden Lake Bowl and Main Bowl
Estimated avalanche date: 12/02/2022
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
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: Main Bowl – east side
Estimated avalanche date: 12/02/2022
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: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
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: Shady side of east bowl. Coded as as east but likely borderline NE and E. Crowns looked sharp so likely failed after the main snow event on Friday.
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