Front Range
AvalancheRichard Jones · May 10, 2015 · Front Range
Weather
Light to moderate winds out of the northwest, about 20-25 degrees
Snowpack
About 10 to 12 inches of relatively low-density snow fell overnight, on top of 4-6 inches of heavier snow that fell the previous night.
Avalanche
I am a member of Grand County SAR and was the first team member in the field today for the avalanche injury on Berthoud Pass. Our incident commander gathered the contact information for the individuals and I believe they gave consent for him to pass their contact info to CAIC, so hopefully you'll be able to talk directly to the group and fill in any gaps, etc in the information below. Six people were traversing from the top of Berthoud Pass (after ascending Mt Russell) to the Broome Hut. All members of the group had avalanche equipment. One individual in the group was having trouble at altitude and needed to descend, so the group skied the Current Creek Bowl (above Moonlight Bowl in Current Creek drainage). Due to poor visibility and flat light, the group did not notice the cornice at the top of the convexity. After Subject A dropped over the cornice, he released some sluff. When Subject B dropped over the cornice, he triggered the avalanche. The slide was R1D1, approx 150 yards wide and 40 yards long (much wider than long). The crown is estimated at 8 to 12 inches, approx 40 degrees, and appeared to only be a storm slab. Aspect ENE, elevation 12,000'. The debris was still quite high in the path, maybe 30-35 degrees where it came to a rest. The slide caught both subjects, but neither were completely buried. Subject A broke his binding and Subject B suffered a knee injury. All members of the party were able to descend. Subject B was moved to a line of small trees below the path, where members of the group dug a deep snow pit/hole to place the subject in to get him out of the wind. Some members of the group descended to the highway to meet SAR, and others stayed with the Subject (either two or three skied out). SAR team 1 consisted of myself, two EMS personnel, and the reporting party (RP). We reached the subject and EMS began the medical assessment, and team 2 arrived shortly thereafter. We packaged the subject and began to evacuate out the same path we hiked in. We met team 3 just above the aqueduct and continued the evacuation to the highway. I don't have any pictures of the avalanche, but I gave my contact info to a member of the group who did have some pictures. Hopefully she will send them to me and I can pass them on to CAIC. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Richard Jones GCSAR