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Giddy Giddy and Avalanche Gulch

Avalanche Gulch
Location Name: 
Avalanche Gulch
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 12/15/2019 - 2:30pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Mostly sunny skies and chilly temperatures made for a beautiful day touring on Mount Shasta today.

Current snow conditions include: 

  • Soft snow in the trees, on protected faces and shady areas near and below treeline
  • Variable snow textures above treeline.
  • Wind packed sastrugi, rime, chicken heads on exposed moraine tops and ridges. (see picture below)
  • Rime plastered on trees and rocks.
  • Very small wind slabs in the lee of trees and easterly facing ridge tops
  • Some exposed and partially buried rocks are lurking below the snow surfaces

Photos

  • View from near Bunny Flat
  • 6 inches of soft snow above crust in protected area near treeline
  • Ski track near treeline Avalanche Gulch
  • Small wind slab found on easterly ridge top Avalanche Gulch
  • Chickenheads, and rime cover exposed moraine tops
  • Small wind slab on lee of tree well Giddy, Giddy Gulch
  • View of Avalanche Gulch from top of Giddy, Giddy Gulch
  • Avalanche Gulch from lake Helen

Weather Observations

Details

There were low lying scattered clouds with a ceiling around 7,000 feet through out the day. For a brief period after noon this ceiling rose creating fogy white out conditions above treeline. An air temperature of 14 degrees Fahrenheit was taken at lake Helen. Light wind with moderate to strong gust wind out of the southeast was blowing down Avalanche Gulch. 

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
No
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
Southeast