Front Range

Avalanche

Banning Starr · Mar 10, 2016 · Front Range

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Weather

Clear and warm. AT = 6.0c at 10:30. Clear and calm for ski up south facing aspect below TL. Windy on ridge aprox. 15 - 20 mph out of west. Temps increasing thru afternoon.

Snowpack

Aprox. 7-20 cm new in 24hr. Multiple crusts below new snow. Dug pit below small observed avalanche. See attached. 27 degree slope. ECTN 16 @ 20cm dwn, ECTN 13 @ 20cm dwn, CTM @ 20cm dwn below new snow. Failure on near surface facets above melt freeze crust. Surface snow Fist hardness.

Avalanche

Skiing off ridge I triggered a small avalanche below wind loaded ridge / cornice. Avalanche was all new snow.