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Cliff Lake area, old avalanches, large cornices

Large cornices dawned ridgelines along the entire crest of the Cliff Lake cirque
Location Name: 
Cliff Lake
Region: 
Castle Lake
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 02/18/2019 - 1:30pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 11' 49.9236" N, 122° 29' 18.4704" W
See map: Google Maps
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

  • old avalanches from the Valentines Day or just prior avalanche cycle still being discovered
  • large cornices dawn ridgelines along the crest of the Cliff Lake cirque. Some cornices were massive. Even small ones were difficult to trigger.
  • supportable, widespread crust below 6-8 inches of dry powder
  • sun crusts and wind affected snow beginning to take form on sunny and exposed aspects, all elevations.
  • shady, northerly slopes still holding dry powder
  • ridgelines scoured and firm
  • thick rime on trees, growing to the south (from southerly storms)
  • rain runnels and lumpy snowpack below 7,000 feet
  • some stream crossings open with running water
  • all lakes are frozen solid
  • total height of snow approximately 8 feet below treeline
  • snowmobile access parking at Buddah Hole along South Fork Sac river, terrible jeeper tracks and hard ruts until second bridge.

Photos

  • Cliff Lake overview. The treed gully, left center, slid likely during the Valentines Day avy cycle
  • A good size D2 wind slab off an un-named 6,934 ft peak northeast of Cliff Lake
  • The Cliff Lake gully slide, D2, north facing, that spilled out onto the lake for about 150 feet. It did not break the ice.
  • The Cliff Lake gully slide, D2, north facing, that spilled out onto the lake for about 150 feet. It did not break the ice.

Weather Observations

Details

  • clear, cold
  • windy out of the northwest

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Wind Direction: 
Northwest