Details

• Date: 2013/02/16

• Observer: David Wileden

Location

• BC Zone: Front Range
• Area Description: Northeast side of berthoud pass. Labeled as north chute on an old berthoud trail map. Skiers right of the cliff bands.
• Route Description: Hiked the boot pack on the east side then traversed above high trail trees, dropping in directly above north chute.

Weather

• Ridgeline Wind Speed: 10-20 mph
• Ridgeline Wind Direction: N
• Wind Loading: Moderate
• Temperature: 30 F
• Sky Cover: Clear
• Weather Description: Warm sunny day, gusty up top but relatively calm at lower elevations. 12 inches of new snow reported in the last week and bout 6 inches in the last 48 hours.

Snowpack

• Snowpack Description: wind crust up top. the snow in the chute was soft and loose, 2-3 feet deep, hit bottom in a few places.

Snowpack Obsvervation #1 Cracking: Minor Collapsing: None Persistent Weak Layer: Yes

Avalanches

	Date	Location/Path	#	Elev	Asp	Type	Trig	SizeR	SizeD
	2013/02/16  †	Berthoud Pass east side	1	>TL	W	L	AS / u
Date: 2013/02/16 (Estimated) Observer: David Wileden Area Description: Steep open chute in a forested area, skiers left of the cliff band. The slide started just below the skier when he was about mid chute. The skier exited the slide path to skiers left just as the entire chute cut loose. The crown was near tree line about 30 feet wide releasing at ground level. The slide maintained a fairly consistent width running to the valley floor. Debris pile may be as deep as 20 feet. Landmark: Berthoud Pass east side Average Slope Angle: 50 ° Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm Weak Layer Grain Type: Unknown Comments: Two snowboarders rode the chute to a safe zone below. The skier who triggered the slide was the third to go.

Media

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