2015/12/19 - Colorado - Number 4, Carter Gulch southwest of Breckenridge

Published 2015/12/30 by Scott Toepfer - Forecaster, CAIC

On this southeast-facing slope near treeline, warm temperatures melted early season snow back to ground. Snow began to accumulate in mid-November. Periodic warm dry spells between storm cycles built a complex snowpack with layers of depth hoar and melt freeze crusts. Recent storm snow had developed into a soft slab with a Hand Hardness Index of 4F plus. This layer was capped with a 10 cm wind slab. The area is windy, and some spots were wind scoured to ground, while others had wind drifts several feet deep.

Saturday December 19 was the first day of the 2015-16 season that the Breckenridge Ski Area opened the Falcon Super Chair, which ascends the northeast ridge of Peak 10 to near treeline. There is a backcountry access gate at the top of the lift, which allows backcountry access to Carter Gulch via the upper reaches of the northeast ridge of Peak 10.

A group of four riders saw that the Falcon Super Chair had opened for the first time this season. Some of the group were familiar with the access gate at the top of the lift, having ridden there the previous season. So, the group decided to ride the lift and exit into the backcountry via the gate. The 4 riders hiked a short distance up the ridge to a series of five avalanche paths known as the Numbers. The paths descend in order from east to west along the ridge. Number 5 is the closest to the ski area boundary and Number 1, the farthest away. Riders 3 and 4 split off from the other two and rode the area known as Number 5. Rider 1 and Rider 2 continued to hike a short distance to a nob at the top of Number 3 and Number 4. Rider 1 and Rider 2 worked their way down the lower angle slopes between path Number 3 and path Number 4. The two riders entered Number 4 along the west flank (rider's right).

Rider 1 descended Number 4, turned east at the bottom of the path, and stopped. He could no longer see the avalanche path or his partner from this location.

Rider 2 began his descent just after Rider 1. Rider 2 was further to the west, or skier's right of Rider 1's line. The avalanche released shortly after Rider 2 began to descend. The avalanche caught Rider 2 and carried him down slope where he came to rest in a sitting position, back uphill. Debris continued to flow down slope and buried Rider 2 to the neck, with one arm free.

After Rider 1 stopped, he looked up slope, but could not see the avalanche from his position. He called for Rider 2 with no response. At that time Rider 1 thought that Rider 2 had continued down slope. From the point where Rider 1 stopped, he had to break trail through deep snow to move down hill. His progress was slow. 

Meanwhile, Rider 2 could not hear Rider 1 calling. Rider 2 was able to extricate himself after about five minutes of digging. Rider 2 began to do a scuff search around the debris, believing that Rider 1 was buried.

Not long after Rider 2 freed himself, a second group of riders came on the scene. They helped Rider 2 continue to search for Rider 1. At about 13:15, the group called the Breckenridge Ski Area (not 911) to report the avalanche. The message was relayed to the Breckenridge Ski Patrol.

After several minutes of searching, one member of the second group decided to head down Carter Gulch toward the ski area to report the incident and see if Rider 1 might be downslope somewhere. This group member eventually caught up to Rider 1, who was still breaking trail through deep snow. They used their cell phone to call back up to the searching group and report that Rider 1 was ok.

Breckenridge Ski Patrol responded to the scene of the avalanche at about 13:30. Flight for Life was also put on stand-by. 

Take-home points:

1) Ride one at a time. There should never be more than one person on an avalanche path at a time.

2) Never loose sight of the other rider(s). On shorter paths move out of the runout zone and watch from a safe spot. On longer paths leap frog down the path moving from safe spot to safe spot.

3) It is important to stay on the site of an avalanche accident. Information such as the point last seen, the intended descent route, and information about the missing rider are invaluable to the rescue team. Self or buddy rescue is always the best option with the highest chance of a successful rescue. It can take rescue teams a while to organize and by that time it may be too late. If you are forced to leave the accident site to initiate a rescue, call 911 as soon as possible. If you are near a ski resort and can not call 911, as in this case, report the accident to the nearest resort employee and ask them to call the ski patrol. The rescue team needs to know how to contact you and may ask you to return to the accident scene to help narrow the search area. Make sure you are available if they need your help and do not leave the place where you reported the accident until someone from the rescue team tells you what to do.

4) Call 911 as soon as you can. Operators at the 911 dispatch center will know what information is needed to launch a rescue team.

5) Whenever you enter the backcountry with the intent of riding in or near avalanche terrain, you should always carry the essential rescue equipment, including a beacon, shovel, and probe.

We would like to extend a big thank you to the Breckenridge Ski Patrol for their help in this avalanche investigation.