Date of Observation: 12/11/2021
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Huge thanks to West Elk Air for getting the CBAC team views of the carnage. These photos are from the Slate River Drainage from Purple Palace to Schuykill Ridge
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Too many to count on the shady side of the basin. Lots of activity at all elevations, overlapping debris piles and evidence from early slide activity was obscured by subsequent snowfall. See photos.
Photos:
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Schuylkill Ridge
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Schuylkill Ridge
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Schuylkill Ridge
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Near Purple Palace
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Purple Palace
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Pittsburg Rollers
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Schuylkill Ridge
Estimated avalanche date: 12/10/2021
Number of Avalanches: 5
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: New/Old interface
Size
Relative Size: R2 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 Palace area
Estimated avalanche date: 12/10/2021
Number of Avalanches: 3
Location
Location: Upper Slate (Purple, Yule Pass, Paradise Divide)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: New/Old interface
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: Near Purple Palace
Estimated avalanche date: 12/10/2021
Number of Avalanches: 12
Location
Location: Schuylkill Ridge
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: New/Old interface
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: Pittsburg Rollers and lower Schuykill Ridge
Estimated avalanche date: 12/10/2021
Number of Avalanches: 4
Location
Location: Schuylkill Ridge
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R2 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: Ridgetop crowns
Estimated avalanche date: 12/10/2021
Number of Avalanches: 3
Location
Location: Schuylkill Ridge
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R2 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:
5072
