Front Range

Avalanche

Shane Wolfe · Dec 9, 2016 · Front Range

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Weather

S-1 for most of the day. Blowing snow, moderate westerly winds. Temps 10F.

Snowpack

Depth of snow was 165 cm at approx 11,800' elevation. East facing aspect near treeline. It was predominately unconsolidated wind drifted / storm snow (130 cm) sitting on a 4 cm thick pencil hard crust that was on top of sugary faceted snow down to the ground.

Avalanche

human triggered R2.5 and D2. Persistent slab failed and stepped down all the way to the ground and propagated approximately 600-700 meters across the slope. The entire fracture was on an east facing aspect. Slid on 35 degree slope.