Snowboarder Took 500′ Ride in Avalanche in Lake Tahoe Yesterday:

There was a human triggered avalanche in Lake Tahoe, California yesterday near the Sisters in the Kirkwood area.  The snowboarder who triggered it went for a frightening 500-foot ride.  The guy was lucky and ended up on top and uninjured.

Just another reminder that you can never count avalanches out in the backcountry, even when there’s only one storm’s worth of snow out there.

This is a time of year when many people are in the backcountry as ski resorts don’t have much to offer yet in Tahoe.  When out there, never let your guard down.  Check beacons, dig pits, add up red flags, give new snow at least 24 hours to settle, and be smart.

SIERRA AVALANCHE CENTER REPORT:

Skinned out of Carson Pass today toward the sisters.  Saw a lil couloir above round top lake on a North/North East aspect and decided to hike up it.  My friend dropped in without cutting it, causing an avalanche that caught him and took him for a ride.   It went on the old snow surface, didn’t propagate into the bottom layers or cause the slope /snow below to slide when it hit it. He wasn’t buried or injured in anyway and we consider ourselves Extremely Lucky!! I was going to do a pit profile on the avalanche but my friend had to work so we headed out.  Wanted to warn all of our fellow snow friends especially with the upcoming storm and snow weight approaching for the snowpack.  Thanks for keeping the community informed! – SAC

AVALANCHE DETAILS:

• Red Flags:  Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain Terrain Trap

• Avalanche Type: Slab
• Trigger type: Snowboarder
• Crown Height: Less than 1 ft

• Aspect: North

• Weak Layer: Storm Snow

• Avalanche Width: 15ft.

• Terrain: Above Treeline

• Elevation: 9 800ft.

• Bed Surface: Old Snow

• Avalanche Length: 500ft.

• Number of people caught: 1