Front Range

Avalanche

Piet Sawvel · Dec 31, 2018 · Front Range

View on map

Weather

Upper west side of X Chute on Berthoud. NNE facing. 1 to 2" new snow overnight, easterly wind maybe 10 mph, very cold 8°

Snowpack

11,800' elevation. Cold, dry upper layer that powdered as the slide ran. The slab didn't maintain its form, but did leave a visible 10" crown.

Avalanche

I led the drop in to X Chute, made about six turns along the left (west) edge and as I cut back right I triggered a slide that ran out to my left. It was about 20' wide and 50' long, and took out the shallow upper surface slab leaving a 10" crown. A minor release but it got our attention. We didn't stop to take photos; our concern was getting to the safety of lower angle terrain. We didn't trigger other slides, nor did we observe previous or new sluffs. We were wary of the crown on the NE-facing aspect of Russell, which is above Hidden Knoll.