Front Range
AvalancheParker Wrozek · Apr 23, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Snowing all day, skin track not in the trees covered each lap. Strong winds.
Snowpack
4" of new snow in the morning probably close to 8" around 2:30. Firm crust under the snow. Runs got better as the day went. Lots of wind drifts and pockets of very deep snow.
Avalanche
Above the aqueduct we encountered a large wind drift and broke apart but did not slide. Traversed out to a safe location. On our last lap we skied into a steeper chute, probably "Nitro Chute". When I entered the gully cutting across the new snow released and ran. I was not caught in the avalanche and it was relatively small, it did not step down into the older snow. 11,500' east aspect (see pin on image). In our discussions on the drive home we didn't give enough weight to the new snow and wind during the day even though there were obvious signs of additional loading compared to the line we skied 4 hours earlier.