Observation type
Avalanche

Observer
Ian Bryant

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Angeles Crest

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20240401

Time
12:00

Road conditions to area

Temperature

Sky
Overcast (sky covered)

Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)

Wind direction
N

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle

Elevation

Snow depth

Boot/ Ski penetration
knee deep

Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
yes

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
yes

Obvious avalanche path
yes

Terrain trap
yes

Comment
April 1st 2024

9.4k above Angeles crest 

New snow approx 50 cm at 6800 ft

5-7cm rain/moisture/radiation crust on all aspects below 7800. Above 7.8k the crust became unnoticeable to nonexistent as the snow and higher elevation environment transitioned.

Little to no rapid warming above 8k as rime and snow on the trees remained quite and still with no melting, which clued into below freezing temperatures. 

We observed large new cornices with some natural cornice failure on a north facing ridge above 9k. 

We also observed some wind loaded features that failed under foot as we descended. Several wind loaded features approx three meters in length by one meter in width failed beneath me and another as we traversed an exposed feature. It was not enough to catch and carry but did raise some concern on exposed convexities. 

No other instability in the higher terrain snowpack was observed. Below 8k was another story.

As we descended below 8k at approx 16:00hrs, nearly all exposed west and east aspects showed obvious and expansive signs of wetloose debris and slides. Some slides and slide paths were respectively d2/r3

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

North slope cornices above 9k