CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Monday, February 9, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Vail & Summit County

Details

Date: 2015/02/09

Observer: Scott Toepfer
Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

BC Zone: Vail & Summit County
Area Description: North Star ridge west of Hoosier Pass

Weather

Ridgeline Wind Speed: 5-10 mph
Ridgeline Wind Direction: NW
Wind Loading: Previous
Sky Cover: Clear
Weather Description: Truly a bluebird day

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: Lots of evidence from recent wind event, scouring and loading, many aspects

Snowpack Obsvervation #1

Cracking: None
Collapsing: None
Comments: Perk columns at 12,000 ft.

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: Cristo Couloir on south side of Quandary Pk

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2015/02/09 ^†

10-mile Range

1

>TL

S

HS

AS / u

R2

D2.5

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Arrows mark the two ends of the crown on Cristo Couloir on Quandary Peak, South Tenmile Range.
This slab probably ran February 4 or 5. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/aq06hvm7w7hz311ize8tjridfifp?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=bfcd02fb1267ac56a7c64f5b5d1ba232','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Crown from skier triggered slab in Cristo Couloir (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/juami9eek3qybvq5k8cpfeyfasdc?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=35e323cf6c62c0bebf95093e5a1f81ad','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Another view looking up the crown on skier triggered slab in Cristo Couloir (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/d28f7wnekqw1bxffzv123rhnrok8?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d980bee1e90cdf081ef17fe14ef738d6','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> View of the Cristo Couloir crown (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/4t1utpkxnjorwkw0mg1e84jgpkn4?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=65f6d4eb555ceca8f35a65ad12f9a024','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)