Observation type
Avalanche
Location (general area)
Baden Powell
Latitude
34.368595
Longitude
-117.762864 
Date (yyyymmdd)
20130224
Time
1500
Road conditions to area
Clear until the closure at Vincent gap; then an icy and thin snow walk back to the car.
Temperature
32°F
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Moderate (17-25mph Small trees sway/ flags stretched)
Wind direction
NE
Slope aspect
North West
Slope angle
38°
Elevation
8000'
Snow depth
Varied
Boot/ Ski penetration
Shooting cracks. Solid chunks breaking underfoot.
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
yes
Brief description
Crust on dust on old, hard, frozen crust. Strong winds higher up.
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, collapsing
yes
Rapid warming
yes
Obvious avalanche path
yes
Terrain trap
yes
Comment
There were plenty of obvious signs of instability. Even the dog knew not to get on the slope. One man having "never seen avalanche activity here" and thought we had "nothing to worry about," convinced others to risk it. Ironically, he's had the avy course and I just read a book.
Of a party of four, I chose to stick mellower slopes. One out ran the debris, another was pushed over 400', and the last was knocked over by the debris.
Debris propagated and the scarp was about 15' wide and 2–3" deep. Debris made it all the way down the slide path.
We were lucky and everyone made it out fine.
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Yes I would like this observation Published