Officials: Avalanche on Mount Shasta traveled more than 3 miles
REDDING, Calif. – A large avalanche on the slopes of Mount Shasta in California was observed Wednesday to have traveled more than 3 miles, creating walls of snow up to 60 feet high and a scene that officials called “mind-boggling.”
Called the Presidents Day Avalanche, the massive slide was triggered by four days of snow falling at the 5,000- to 6,000-foot levels, the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center said.
“All said and done, 6.57 inches of snow-water equivalent fell, equaling about 2.5-3 feet of new snow near (the) tree line on (Mt.) Shasta and likely more up higher,” the Avalanche Center wrote on its report of the incident.
Officials estimate the Feb. 19 avalanche started at the 12,000-foot level in the area of Avalanche Gulch and traveled down to around 7,000 feet.
“It (had) walls up to 60 feet and debris piles even deeper,” the Avalanche Center said.
There were no injuries.
The Presidents Day Avalanche was nearly identical to the Valentine’s Day Avalanche in 2019, officials said.
The Mount Shasta Avalanche Center said the amount of snow that piled up from Monday’s avalanche was “mind-boggling. This is a wonderful, fantastic, shivers-down-your-spine natural event ... and naturally we are glad nobody was caught in this whopper.”
The avalanche risk on the mountain was moderate near and above the tree line and low below the tree line on Thursday.
“Slopes receiving sun will be naturally releasing snow and could knock you off your feet, carrying you through hazardous terrain. Pay attention to your surroundings, watch for signs of instability, and evaluate the snow carefully before committing to travel in avalanche terrain,” the Avalanche Center said.