Vail & Summit County
AvalancheMac Peters · Feb 19, 2022 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Moderate northwesterly winds in the morning, increasing throughout the day. Large winds in the afternoon on ridge lines and nearby summits. Clear skies, little to no wind in booth lake basin, roughly ~20mph gusts on summit. Warming temps around 11am.
Snowpack
Fresh snow ~3-5” of fresh on top of hard pack below tree line. Transitioned to a much more wet snow surface above 11,500 on E/SE/S facing slopes. Small point releases on east facing slopes Small point release and debris on eastern face / cliffs of point 12,550
Avalanche
First rider entered the slope and made a ski cut and few small turns before gradually gaining speed down slope. The sluff from the initial turns (top ~200') collected into a pocket of wet snow near rocks further down slope that turned into a larger loose wet slide. Second rider repeated sluff on radio, First rider followed exit plan route to skiers right, allowing slide to take its path, first rider safely rode down slope on skiers right. Second rider chose alternative descent down skiers left, following ascent route on lower angle terrain. Gore Range 12,500 >TL SS Wet Loose S/SE R2 D1.5 Submitted 2/19 but its not showing so must of been user error.