Front Range
AvalancheCorey Aretakis · Jan 8, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
ATL, below ridgeline in cirque at top of first creek. Consistent westerly wind below ridgeline at ~20 mph
Snowpack
N, NE, and E aspects appeared heavily wind loaded. Significant signs of wind loading: 2-4 ft high strastugi on S aspect ATL. Massive cornices on east aspects ATL, including one ~20-25 ft cornice loaded up on what otherwise is a 25 degree roll over (well below the ridge, just above the flat meadow area beneath the cirque).
Avalanche
>TL, N/NE aspect, HS, U, R3, D2. First Creek cirque behind Broome Hut, N/NE aspect ATL. 100m wide crown, appearing 3-5 ft deep. Crown propagated across slopes between 30-35 degrees with significant evidence of wind loading. Crown propagated most of width of possible start zone, and appears to have ripped to the ground (ground has since been covered with new + transported snow, with patches of dirt/shrubs sticking out)