Front Range
AvalancheAnonymous · Nov 26, 2016 · Front Range
Weather
Clear, in the 20s, windy at ridge top, blowing snow 11,500', N/NE aspect, S. Diamond peak
Snowpack
New low density snow on top of cohesive slab from last week's snow sitting on faceted layer near the ground. Wind slab observed near ridge top >11,250'. Shooting cracks also observed on the skin tracks (N/NE aspect, 35 degree angle slope), N/NE aspect, 11,000', S.Diamond peak
Avalanche
Our group observed two skiers trigger three slides total: R2 D2. These slides were large and could easily bury or kill a person. Skiers were not buried or injured. These occurred on N/NE aspect, at 11,600' on S. Diamond Peak. The crown was 18-24", avalanches were 100-200' wide, and ran for 500' to the bench below the peak, last week's snow that formed cohesive slab running on facets near the ground. Slope angles where skiers triggered slides was about 38 degrees and all start zones occurred on convex terrain features near the summit.