Front Range
AvalancheAnonymous · Mar 26, 2017 · Front Range
Weather
Cloudy, diminishing visibility. NE aspect, 11,200'. Relatively calm winds, and beginning to snow lightly.
Snowpack
Firm base from recent warm weather, with 3-6" of soft snow on top from recent overnight snowfall. Minor windloading near features (trees/rocks), which was the cause of the small avalanches we witnessed.
Avalanche
We witnessed a party of two skiers and two dogs beginning their descent as we broke treeline. They began on more open terrain, but traversed sidehill towards tree segment. One skier and dog descended uneventfully. Second pair triggered small slides through trees and rocks. The dog was below and triggered small slough, but skier above caused fracture that ran down sequential trigger points and caused larger slide. Appeared to be windslab. He was able to stay upright as snow slid past, then descended bed surface. Estimated crown height 10-12". Est. R1, D1