Tony Grove West 1-31-06

Natural Avalanche

A natural avalanche on the west side of Tony Grove Lake

This is one of a few pockety natural avalanches that occurred in the region overnight 1-30/31-06.  The steep east-northeast facing slope at 8200' in elevation was overloaded by sustained winds and heavy snowfall.

The avalanche on a short 40+ degree slope was 1-2' deep and 100' wide.  Deposition ran to the lake level.  This one failed on Sunday's snow surface, but there's a suspect weak sugary layer lurking below, and future avalanches may step further down into the snowpack.