Sawatch
AvalancheMark Mueller · Feb 9, 2014 · Southern San Juan
Weather
Snowfall eased during the morning hours, but increased during the afternoon. Winds increase in the PM as well.
Avalanche
A large avalanche at the Crest Bowl closed the highway at 0505. No vehicles were involved. Debris removal was initiated, but stopped until the area could be evaluated by CAIC Forecaster Mueller who arrived about 0915. The area was evaluated and debris removal was allowed to continue in specific safe areas until the Launcher from Alamosa arrived (with D. Vialpando, R. Hamilton, J. Romero, G. Sanchez). Five rounds were fired into areas of concern at the Crest Bowl with no results and debris removal was allowed to continue without restriction. The Launcher team moved eastward down the pass firing rounds into Big Curve and the Quarry View in order to establish safe access to and from the Monarch Ski Area. The team then proceeded to the Race Track area and fired three rounds there with minor results. At that point, it was determined that an adequate margin of safety existed to open the pass after plowing of the snow that had fallen during mitigation. The pass opened at 1450 hours (9 hours 45 minutes). Mitigation at the Big Slide and Gunbarrel that had already been scheduled for later in the afternoon produced good results with an additional eight avalanches reaching the road with moderate deposits of snow. Planned mitigation at Dog Creek could not be safely conducted today due to persons and vehicles in the avalanche area and is scheduled for Monday morning at 1000.