Rescue Creek delivers...the debris

A storm slab avalanche cycle occurred Friday and Saturday during a heavy loading event that deposited over 18" of relatively dense snow at 3400' (Nyack Flats trailhead). 

• Recent snow had filled the crowns in and covered debris piles but I was able to note 8 storm slab avalanches. Most of these originated on the Rescue/Cascade ridge and traveled 1500-2000' to the valley floor, depositing fields of debris similar in size to a football/soccer field.
• Slides originated on east and southeast aspects with windloading likely contributing to triggering.

Perhaps 2 persistent slab avalanches also occurred during this time frame. These originated on northerly aspects of Nyack Mountain and traveled down the 2 enormous paths into Rescue Creek.

• Both slides traveled 2000-3000' and deposited a deep broad pile of debris with windloading likely contributing to triggering. 

Monday's heat wave and bluebird conditions resulted in wet avalanche activity on all aspects with the most impressive slides originating from the Rescue/Cascade ridge on easterly aspects.

• One slide traveled 1500' and deposited a football field size pile of debris that appeared to be uniformly thick up to 8' deep.
• Two slides started just north of the summit of Mt. Penrose, merged in the valley floor and continued down the drainage. Total vertical run was 2700' with debris deposited 1500-2000' linear feet. Depth near the terminus was up to 15'.