Observation type
Avalanche

Observer
Lee Alexanderson

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Baldy Bowl

Latitude
34.2817

Longitude
-117.6411

Date (yyyymmdd)
20210314

Time
0800

Road conditions to area
Clear and dry

Temperature
28-34F

Sky
clear (no clouds)

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

Wind direction
W

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
South East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle

Elevation
8,500'

Snow depth
18-24"

Boot/ Ski penetration

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
yes

Brief description
2 large slides from 3/13 were seen (one from Schizo Alley and one from Procrastinaton Chute)

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
yes

Obvious avalanche path
yes

Terrain trap
no

Comment
We headed up the Ski Hut Trail at 0515. Quickly dug some hand pits alongside the trail and noted a brittle crust 3" thick at 7K on top of 12" of loose sugar with 1" of crust on top of 12-18" of very loose sugar at 8K.

Started up Baldy Bowl at 0730 aiming for Procrastination Chute. There was another new slide to the left of Saturday’s Schizo avy which stopped just above the trees. Portions of the slide scoured the slope to dirt/scree. Hand dug some more quick pits adjacent to the slide and the snow was between 18-24” deep: a 3-6” slab on top of moderately condensed snow which popped off easily. At 0930, we neared the top of the chute and the sun was warming the snow quickly and I could easily pack a solid snowball. At the top, there was the crown of the avy which was about 3’ in the highest break and looked about 2’ on average.

The avy ran over 1000' starting at 9.8K and ending at 8.5K just above tree line in the Bowl, and was approximately 75-100' wide.

A new wet slide was noticed on the descent adjacent to the most southern cliff at the Bowl's edge at 1300.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

View of Baldy Bowl slides from Ski Hut Trail at 0645

3' crown atop procastimation chute