Front Range
AvalancheEddie Clark · Jan 1, 2025 · Front Range
Weather
Weather started somewhat nice in the high teens with moderate winds at the trailhead around 930am, and within a couple hours the wind picked up noticably to 15-20mph at treeline with gusts at 30+mph out of the southwest. Visibility was poor due to blowing snow and light snow. As the day progressed winds and snow increased and temperature dropped.
Snowpack
Near treeline we encountered some trap doors and fractures in snow radiating 2-3' from ski tips. At treeline on a north aspect we observed a foot of new snow resting on sugary facets, although this was a somewhat wind effected feature.
Avalanche
From the parking lot we were able to see a large crown above Heart Lake and just below the Continental Divide. The crown is estimated to be 6-7 feet at the largest point. Avalanche cleared out the slope to ground, and most likely ran all the way down to Heart Lake and possibly over it. I estimate it to be an R4 D3 from the crown size. This was one of the larger avalanches I've seen in that area in 20 years of riding in this zone, and is indicative of the avalanche problem for all of James Peak Wilderness right now- lots of wind loading on a thin weak base. Big steep slopes coming down from the Continental Divide are reaching their tipping point and are capable of producing large deadly avalanches. Unfortunately by the time we got to treeline there was no visibility to safely make further observations.