Front Range
AvalancheSam Ridley · Dec 4, 2022 · Front Range
Weather
Cloud cover progressed from few to broken between 9am and 2pm. Light Southwesterly winds with light blowing snow near and above treeline with Moderate gusts were consistent throughout the day. Snow plumes off of summits and ridge lines, and transportation along the ground were observed intermittently. Loading was primarily occurring on NE aspects. There was no new precipitation throughout the day,
Snowpack
The avalanche in this observation and representative snowpit showed unstable conditions on NE above treeline aspects in the area. The snowpit test results were ECT13 Q1 SP and ECT 14 Q1 SP both at 40cm from the ground. Active wind transport deposited 16cm of new snow at the test pit site today, and likely significantly more closer to ridge lines and summits on Northeasterly aspects.
Avalanche
A group of snowmobilers were riding an above treeline lower angle East facing slope north of this avalanche. They moved to this slope and the first rider triggered the avalanche on lookers right while riding on the slope. The avalanche was triggered from below. Once the rider was down, the second avalanche on lookers left released sympathetically and the debris covered the top of the rider's tracks. No one was caught.