Front Range

Avalanche

Anonymous · Jan 7, 2024 · Front Range

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Weather

It was a calm party cloudy day. 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avalanche

The avalanche occurred North of Arapahoe Lakes at East Portal. Skier was last to go on a SE facing line. There was some wind loaded snow above rocks that acted like an anchor. Upon starting his route the snow beneath his feet gave way and the avalanche broke above him. He self arrested and stayed on top of the slide. It was a steep slope and the avalanche ran out a couple hundred yards. The wind slab avalanche broke two to three feet beneath the surface and propagated fifty yards across near the start of the line.