Colorado: Backcountry avalanche watch issued

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Snow Thursday night could set off another natural avalanche cycle

Parts of the Colorado mountains are under an avalanche watch. Click for more info.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A round of forecast snow — perhaps 4 to 10 inches Thursday night — could unleash another cycle of dangerous, naturally running backcountry avalanches, Colorado snow safety experts said, issuing an avalanche watch that covers the Front Range and mountains to the west from Fairplay up to Steamboat Springs.

Four people have died in avalanches this season, including two at ski areas. Get the latest backcountry update at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website.

An avalanche watch means that, if the weather forecast is accurate, the avalanche danger will rise to high in the watch area, with both natural and triggered slides likely. The watch is in effect through 11 a.m. Friday. A high danger rating means very dangerous backcountry avalanche conditions, and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Specifically, the warning covers the Park Elkhead, Flattop, Front, Gore and Tenmile ranges. (more…)

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Backcountry avalanche warning in Colorado

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Avalanche danger is high across much of the Colorado high country.

Natural and triggered slides likely in the mountains

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Most mountain backcountry areas in Colorado are under an avalanche warning Sunday after more than 12 inches of new snow brought a sketchy early season snowpack to the tipping point.

Forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center say that a widespread cycle of natural and triggered avalanches is likely. Backcountry travelers will easily trigger slides on most aspects and elevations and avalanches will also be easily triggered from a distance of 100 feet or more.

The avalanche danger is in the red zone, rated as high, in all mountain areas but the Sawatch and south San Juans, where it’s rated as considerable.

From the Summit County warning:

“The largest avalanches will occur on slopes facing north through east to southeast near and above treeline. Widespread but smaller avalanches are likely on all other slopes.”

The CAIC has listed reports of 15 avalanches since Jan. 19, including two in the Loveland Pass area and several more from East Vail to the Shrine Pass area. More info at the CAIC website.

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Colorado: CAIC reports first avalanche death of season

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Sidecountry rider caught in slide in sidecountry near Snowmass Ski Area

Much of the Colorado backcountry is prone to dangerous avalanches.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reporting that the first avalanche death of the season occurred Thursday, Jan. 18 in the sidecountry, near Snowmass.

The slide reportedly happened on Burnt Mountain, just to the east and outside the Snowmass Ski Area, where the terrain is generally northeast-facing. According to the first report posted on the CAIC website, the avalanche was described as a small slide that ran into a gully or terrain trap. (more…)

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Colorado: Avalanche danger rises in the backcountry

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Triggered avalanches are likely on many slopes in the Colorado backcountry.

Triggered slides likely on many slopes

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Snowfall and wind have combined to push the backcountry snowpack in Colorado to the tipping point, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, where forecasters issued an avalanche advisory valid through 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Across much of the state, the avalanche danger is rated as considerable, with natural avalanches possible and triggered avalanches likely on many steep slopes, including below treeline. Backcountry travelers will also see remotely triggered slides and experience signs of instability, including cracks and collapsing slabs. It will be possible to trigger avalanches from lower-angle slopes well below the starting zones. (more…)

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Colorado: Backcountry avalanche danger is ‘considerable’

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Faceted sugar snow, fresh windslab combine to make triggered releases likely on many slopes in the Summit-Vail area

Tricky avalanche conditions prevail in the backcountry.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — With clear and calm weather expected through the Christmas weekend and throngs of skiers and boarders expected in the high country, avalanche experts are warning  not to underestimate the dangers of  the thin and tricky early season snowpack in the backcountry.

The avalanche was rated as considerable as of late Wednesday, which means that triggered slides are likely and natural avalanches are possible.

“Small, human-triggered avalanches are likely in many areas,” in the Summit-Vail zone, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasters wrote in their bulletin following the latest storm. And given the sparse snowpack, even a small avalanche could potentially step down to the ground and drag backcountry travelers through rocks and trees.

The most recent storm also brought easterly winds to the area, potentially loading areas that aren’t generally considered to be avalanche starting zones under the more prevalent westerlies. Fresh and brittle windslabs on east aspects are sitting atop unstable layers of faceted snow that offers almost no cohesion.

The most likely places to trigger avalanches are lee and cross-loaded slopes of more than 35 degrees, according to the CAIC.

With chilly temperatures expected to linger into Friday, the avalanche danger probably won’t subside much until later in the weekend.

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Colorado, recreation, search and rescue, skiing and riding, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado’s peaks can be deadly when weather turns

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Kim Fenske hikes Bierstadt and talks mountain weather

Ptarmigan changing plumage from summer to winter blend in well in snow-flecked grass.

Story and photos by Kim Fenske

When the forecast is for unstable weather, hiking into a remote base camp and planning an ascent of a mountain with severe grades on unmarked slopes or exposed ledges is not a reasonable plan. It’s difficult enough to predict lightning storms in summer when summit strikes threaten. Sudden snowstorm can create white-outs in high winds on high altitude ascents and create slippery conditions for boulder scrambles.

During the spring and summer of 2011, the first four deaths on Fourteeners involved snow conditions. None of the mountains where these death happened are considered easy or moderate ascents on standard hike routes.

Torreys Peak killed a skier who triggered an avalanche in a snowstorm so severe that rescuers were unable to reach the scene by helicopter. A woman slipped down a snow-covered chute during an ascent of Mount Princeton in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. On nearby Missouri Mountain, a father and daughter who were experienced hikers fell from the ridge near the standard approach and were found several days after they were killed.  By contrast, the eleven climbers killed in 2010 near a Fourteener summit were on the most difficult sixteen of the fifty-four peaks and often on non-standard routes. (more…)

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Colorado: A fall hike on Castle Peak

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Guidebook author Kim Fenske shares trail beta and photos from a Colorado classic

Aspen's famed Maroon Bells, seen from the Castle Peak area.

Story and photos by Kim Fenske

Castle Peak is a majestic fortress, diminished only by the magnificent company it keeps. Since the more renowned peaks of Maroon, North Maroon, Pyramid, and Snowmass lie close at hand, Castle Peak rests in relative peace.

From Summit County, Castle Peak Trailhead is a hundred miles away. Climb over Independence Pass, drop through Aspen, and turn from the roundabout to Castle Creek Road. Castle Creek Road leads to a jeep road that is the beginning of a six-mile ascent to the summit of Castle Peak. The abandoned silver mining town of Ashcroft is nestled among aspen meadows on Castle Creek Road, ten miles below the remains of the Montezuma-Tam O’Shanter Mine. (more…)

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Photoblog: French Pass wildflowers

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Jenney Coberly

A spectacular display of early August wildflowers up around treeline

The columbine are blooming along the French Pass trail.

Story and photos by Jenney Coberly

BRECKENRIDGE — French Pass is named for an early Canadian fur trader, “French Pete” as he was known, who used a Continental Divide crossing between Bald Mountain and Mt. Guyot to travel between two of his preferred trapping areas.

Wildflower meadow along the French Pass trail

(more…)

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Summit County: Hiker dies of heart attack on Quandary Peak

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Quandary Peak, Colorado.

Decedent had a history of heart disease

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The coroner’s office reported that a 48-year-old man died while hiking on Quandary Peak Sunday, probably of a heart attack.

Summit County search and rescue officials were notified by a 911 call at 1 p.m. indicating a cardiac arrest.

The Summit County Rescue Rescue Group and Flight for Life responded to scene, but the man was pronounced dead at 3: 42 p.m. and brought down the mountain by the rescue group.

The Boulder resident, said to be of Middle Eastern descent, was in the county with a friend for a day hike. He had been living in Colorado for about 10 years.

His name will not be released until next of kin has been notifed. He does not have family in this country. The decedent had a significant medical history and the cause of death is consistent with a heart attack.

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Third Colorado avalanche death of the season confirmed

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Dangerous conditions in the backcountry persist, with an avalanche warning in effect. Click on the image to visit the CAIC accident page.

Snowboarder reported dead in Berthoud Pass snow slide

Editor’s note: This story was edited Jan. 20 to reflect updated information from the official report at the CAIC accident website.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has confirmed the third avalanche death of the season, this time in the backcountry near Berthoud Pass.

A 26-year-old snowboarder identified as Jeffrey Miller by the Grand County Sheriff, was reported missing Monday, Jan. 17 after traveling along what is called the “High Cliffs” trail.

The avalanche danger for the area was rated as high on north through southeast-facing slopes near and above treeline, with both natural and triggered slides likely. According to the CAIC, the riders were not wearing avalanche transceivers.

More details on Miller’s friends helped organize a search and rescue part in the Sky-Hi Daily News.

Search and rescue teams conducted what was described as a limited search, with considerable avalanche danger to the search parties.

The CAIC said it will release more details when they’re available. An avalanche warning remains in effect for the Colorado mountains from the Vail area eastward through Summit County and into the Front Range mountains with a continued chance for natural and triggered slides. In some places, there could be large avalanches.

In the mountains from Aspen through Crested Butte and into the northern San Juans, the avalanche danger is rated considerable, and human-triggered slides are considered likely on leeward, wind-loaded slopes, generally on the east side of the compass.

More info at the CAIC website.

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