Front Range
AvalancheNate Pearson · Jun 10, 2019 · Front Range
Weather
Gusty and mostly cloudy at 8am, temps in the high 20s at 13k and above. Warmed relatively slowly throughout the morning as wind died down and cloud cover dissipated.
Snowpack
Seemingly solid freeze above 13k on Saturday night, but below seemed to be a weaker surface freeze. Cornice fall in the photo is on SE aspect at ~13.5k and fell some time in the late morning. This and other evidence of roller balls from across the valley indicated rapid warming on SE aspect after clouds cleared, whereas N/NE aspect above 13k remained firm, if not crusty, into the early afternoon.
Avalanche
Cornice fall that triggered slab avalanche in Sunrise Couloir on Mt. Spalding happened some time between 11am-1pm. The bootpack and tracks in the photo were from days prior and were unrelated to the cornice fall.