Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from afar from Mt. Crested Butte
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous large avalanches on various aspects. From my vantage, I could only see the east half of the compass, and I saw activity on all of those slopes. Sizes and avalanche type coded below are estimated from a distance, without clear views of runouts.
Photos:
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Crowns on Afley Peak
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Crowns and debris on Owen (background) and Scarp Ridge (foreground)
Estimated avalanche date: 12/24/2021
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Lake Irwin (Robinson Basin, Owen, Ruby)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
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: Mt. Owen. Could have been hard slab or soft slab
Estimated avalanche date: 12/24/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Lake Irwin (Robinson Basin, Owen, Ruby)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: S
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type:
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size:
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: Debris pile below the south face of Owen. Could have been SE aspect as well.
Estimated avalanche date: 12/24/2021
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Oh-Be-Joyful Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above 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: NE side of Afley
Estimated avalanche date: 12/24/2021
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Peeler Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane:
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: Scarp Ridge
Estimated avalanche date: 12/24/2021
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Oh-Be-Joyful Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: SE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
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: Afley Southeast Face
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