Front Range

Avalanche

Andy Nelson · Feb 2, 2020 · Front Range

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Weather

Spent today below tree line. Sunny and warm. Breezy. Suspension/blowing snow above ridge tops and saltation on the ground. No new snow.

Snowpack

Dug around a little bit below treeline today on a NE aspect around 10,200. 160cm HS. Fist and 4F snow mostly, with the bottom 30cm containing the facets. CTN/ECTX. PST got the basal facets going but no full prop, (PST 40/115 Arr)

Avalanche

Observed a crown line on and east aspect of the Nokhu Crags, in the area known as Paradise Basin / Paradise Bowl. Crown line located at approximately 11,300. Approx 400-500ft wide. Avalanche ran perhaps 200-400 vertical feet. Trigger is unknown, perhaps a natural release. My guess is R2/D2. Did not see this crown line yesterday Feb 1 when observing Nokhu from Table Iron. I think wind slab. Took a few photos but with the bright sun it was hard to capture the crown until later in the day when the shadows accentuated the crown. I have indicated on Google Earth the approximate location of the avalanche.