Front Range

Avalanche

Nick Barlow · Feb 4, 2016 · Front Range

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Weather

(10:00am) -15C, few, NW - moderate,gusting strong, (12:00pm) -12C, scattered, NW - light, (14:20pm) -9C, broken, NW - light

Snowpack

Highly wind-affected snow ATL & NTL, with widespread previous wind loading on E. through S. aspects. Wind slab depth ranged from 30-100cm. Slab density ranged from very firm (pencil) to very soft (fist). Widespread audible collapses and shooting cracks ATL. Snowpit and test results revealed a sensitive wind-slab avalanche problem on E/SE aspects ATL. A persistent slab avalanche problem was observed on the same aspects, but also within the NTL & BTL elevation zones.

Avalanche

(3) skier-triggered small to medium sized avalanches - intentionally, remotely, and sympathetically. E. Aspect, ATL, 12,000' (HS-ASc-R2-D2-I) SE. Aspect, ATL, 12,000' (SS-ASy-R3-D1-I) E/SE. Aspect, ATL, 11,800' (HS-ASr-R1-D1-I)