Front Range

Avalanche

Charlie Ziskin · Jan 30, 2017 · Front Range

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Weather

Fair skies, air temp 20 deg F, N wind @ 20-30 mph Jones Pass NE aspect 12,000 feet

Snowpack

Hard wind slab above treeline, stiff wind slab below treeline, minimal wind effect in denser trees.

Avalanche

Widespread avalanches started above treeline on NE facing slopes at 12,000 feet on the south side of Clear Creek West Fork valley. SS. If the weak layer was surface hoar it was all blown away. Bed surface was finger hardness. Visible crowns estimated at 12-18 inches. Complex terrain with multiple starting zones across a zone 2000 feet wide. Avalanches ran into and below treeline with sofa-sized blocks of snow. Estimate R2 D2.