Date of Observation: 01/02/2022
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Middle Ruby Range (between Daisy Pass and Purple).
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous destructive avalanches from 12/31 cycle, generally D2.5 to D4, mostly on east to north aspects. Some of these were previously documented and coded on Jan 1, but I’m adding better photos to this ob. Plenty of evidence of smaller or older undocumented slides.
Photos:
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Upper Poverty Gulch between Augusta and Purple
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Richmond
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Mineral
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Near the Cascade and Bichmond Pass. Relatively small start zones but ran to valley floor
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 3
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: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
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: East face of Mineral. Saddle between Mineral and Purple x 2
Estimated avalanche date: 12/31/2021
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Poverty Gulch (Pittsburg, Augusta, Baxter Basin)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
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: Near Bichmond/Cascade Saddle. Relatively small crown start zones but ran far to valley bottom and entrained significant snow.
Estimated avalanche date: 12/30/2021
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: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
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: Angel Pass. Ran to valley bottom. Crown and debris covered enough to think this slide was a day or two before the 12/31 cycle.
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: R3 medium
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: Between Daisy Pass and Richmond
Estimated avalanche date: 01/31/2022
Number of Avalanches: 2
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: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
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: Ridge Between Augusta and Purple
5203
