Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Mike Zobbe · Feb 16, 2014 · Vail & Summit County

View on map

Weather

Intense squalls w/gusty high wind and ~.75 inch per hour snowfall when I observed slide. Previous guest at hut indicated they didn't see slide when they traveled to hut on Thursday 2/13 but it was there when they exited the hut on Friday, 2/14

Avalanche

W aspect crown approx 12,000' Ran approx 500' vert (Full track) SSNG R4 D2. (took out small trees). Visibility made it difficult to see details of crown depth and width In 20+ years of traveling up and down that valley 8-10 times a winter, I have never seen this path run full track, I have seen a few times small, R1 D1 type activity on cross loaded features and pillows. Observed another SSNO R2 D2 on W aspect also on Jaque Ridge further to the south(closer to Janets Cabin) Crown 2-3" deep 150' wide, ran 300' vertical, crown elevation 12,200'. Usually this slope is scoured to either rock or thin sustrugi. I have seen this run as wet slide in april/May but never mid winter