Front Range

Avalanche

Anonymous · Apr 26, 2022 · Front Range

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Weather

- weather was sunny, temps around freezing, moderate sustained W winds with some stronger gusts, signs of wind-loading over the ridge

Snowpack

crust approx 2-3 inches thick, then mostly soft snow underneath until a harder layer at approx 20"

Avalanche

ascending to the Citadel-Bethel ridge from the bowl, NE aspect, approx 12400'' dry slab avalanche (probably wind slab?) triggered by 3 climbers -- all caught, 2 carried, no burials or major injury. climbers were ~50ft below the crown when it broke. crown spans the entire NE-facing slope. debris field was relatively shallow, likely R2/D2.