You are here
Avalanche - Castle Lake - Right Peak
Location Name:
Right PeakRegion:
Castle LakeDate and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown):
Sat, 03/04/2017 - 7:00pmObservation made by:
Board of DirectorsRed Flags:
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Location Map
United States
41° 13' 52.0464" N, 122° 23' 28.6656" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Avalanche Observations
Details
Characteristics
Avalanche Type:
DrySlabTrigger type:
SkierSlope:
35degreesAspect:
NorthwestElevation:
6 200ft.Terrain:
Near TreelineWeak Layer:
Storm SnowBed Surface:
Old SnowCrown Height:
Less than 1 ftAvalanche Width:
100ft.Avalanche Length:
500ft.Number of people caught:
1Number of partial burials:
0Number of full burials:
0Weather Observations
Details
Very windy, heavy snow, poor visibility. Winds were out of the west at 0900 and then switched to southwest/south at about 10 to 1030 hrs. Active wind loading and cross loading of slopes.
Statistics
Cloud Cover:
100% of the sky covered by cloudsBlowing Snow:
YesPrecipitation:
SnowAccumulation rate:
Greater than 1 in. per hourAir temperature:
Below FreezingAir temperature trend:
CoolingWind Speed:
StrongWind Direction:
West
Winds were blowing very strongly out of the south. The group was gathered on the top of Right Peak above Castle Lake. One skier decided to duck under a cornice out of the wind. As he dropped below the cornice, he triggered a small avalanche in which he was carried for about 5 feet before coming to rest in a small clump of trees where the slope angle was not as steep. The wind slab slid on the old snow surface. About 4 inches of snow had fallen but loaded on the westerly aspect to twice that amount, approx 8-10 inches.