Front Range
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 30, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Overcast, Steady easterly wind with strong gusts. ~20F, 10,900 FT.
Snowpack
East/Southeast aspect. Significant wind-loading in some area/Scoured areas on ridge. No significant instability below treeline, Thin wind slab above treeline. Area that slid had significant wind slab given the location above being the low point between to peaks, funneling wind deposited snow.
Avalanche
Avalanche around 10am while approaching the base of west gully ice. Traversing south of the slide to the base of the rock buttress. Cresting the step approximately 200 vertical feet below the ice conditions changes from scoured solid snow to wind slab. Immediately after entering wind slab on skis cracks propagated and the entire steep slope above slid ~35-40 degree slope. Crown line 12-24" follow the rock line on climbers left and across the entire slope. Slide did not crest rock step above black lake. No climbers caught. Debris field was deep enough to bury trees on the step which acted as a terrain trap.