Front Range
AvalancheAlex Blanchard · Feb 10, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
General wet wind, resulting in mild cross-loading. Also seemed to come over the ridge at times 6" new snow in parking lot (since last plowed)
Snowpack
Going up we didn't see anything super concerning, There was obviously new snow and the wind was moving it around, but nothing was forming a slab yet. Jumped around on a test slope right next to the top of the chute with no results beyond feeling a bit of a slick surface under the new snow. Concluded that we'd have to manage sluff a bit but still wasn't super concerned. First pitch felt stable and were able to put some good turns in it.
Avalanche
R2 - D1 soft slab Wind slab on top of surface hoar (?) Started up from second creek trailhead about sunrise, 6" new snow in the parking lot and pretty windy. Had a north facing line that I'd skied two weeks before in mind. Skinned up the same aspect in sheltered and didn't see anything of concern. Got to the aqueduct and traverse to the top of the line, and it looked great (purely skiing perspective). Hopped on a test slope right by it and saw only what would equate to sluffing, but nothing slabby. We were running late and realistically only had time for one good lap so decided to go for it instead of taking a first lap in the trees next to it. Started to internally question the decision a bit right before dropping, but just went for it. We stopped at a safe zone about a third of the way down to regroup and so that we could keep eye's on for the second part. My partner dropped the second pitch (couple degrees steeper and a bit more exposed) and on his second turn it looked like he fell and slid out. I quickly realize that the entire slope was actually moving. At this point it hits me that we had just messed up. I watched as he took a ride down the last 150' of the chute through some small tree to the bottom. Luckily he ends up on the top a bit shaken up but otherwise alright. The crown was 2"-8" deep and about 30' wide, with a debris field 2' - 3' wide. Needless to say we called it a day after that.. LEARNING LESSONS Human Factor - This was in my mind the biggest mistake. I had really committed to ski this line and we passed up what would have been some perfectly fun and safer tree lines. It also allowed us to ignore the steepness, which we both admitted afterwards we had thought was a bit steep but didn't say anything. Little changes = Big differences The slope after the first safety zone was a couple degrees steeper and a bit more exposed to the wind, and this made all the difference. The bit of extra wind created enough of a slab and the extra degrees put us right below the sweet spot for slides. Trust your gut - I was starting to have second thoughts right before we dropped but decided to go for it. If you have any hesitation in the backcountry you have to right to veto a line. I realized that that also means you can change your mind and veto your own line.