Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Anonymous · Jan 2, 2021 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

ESE aspect / approx 38 degree pitch / 11,700 / 2pm / windy +/- 10 mph, gusts to 30 / 10-15 degrees

Snowpack

Obvious windloading on all east aspects

Avalanche

Went for a short tour up Straight Creek at about 1:30pm Saturday. Near the northern end of the valley skin track just before it starts climbing, I observed a newer avalanche just south of the lower rock knob. There appeared to be skier tracks above but wind was quickly filling features in. Slide was about 50 yards wide, ran approx 150 yards. I climbed a bit to get a better view and observe the slide with binoculars. Slide started just over a rollover into a steeper pitch (35-40 degrees), It was a smaller slide but definitely could have buried someone. I didn't see any clues to a victim. I noticed another skier track had skied up to the toe of the slide and down.