CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Monday, April 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Front Range

Details

Date: 2016/04/18

Observer: Thomas White
Organization: Alpine Patrol, Eldora Mountain Resort Patrol

Location

BC Zone: Front Range
Area Description: Lost Lake west of Eldora Resort
Route Description: From the village of Eldora/Hessie Trailhead to Lost Lake Chutes (point 10530)

Weather

Weather Description: 0800 - Trailhead: OVC & VF, temps slightly below freezing, wind calm 1230 - Above Lost Lake (point 10530), BKN, slightly above freezing, wind calm

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: HS varied from 60cm to 180cm based on wind loading in terrain. Average from recent storm 100cm - 120cm. New snow on bare ground or melt-freeze crusts. Hand and shovel shear tests indicate new snow well bonded to previous snow surfaces. A wind slab was present in the upper half of the new snow on westerly lee slopes. No signs of recent instability

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: Both right and left chutes had soft avalanche debris (R2 D1) at the bottom. It appeared to be from early in the recent storm cycle (Friday - Saturday).

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2016/04/16 ^†

2

<TL

SS

N

R2

D1

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Rimed branches around Lost Lake formed by an easterly wind. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/qy7sas4ip3t4i0gbm22wtgmj8q42?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=591481d9078426b735427f39de331715','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Above Lost Lake (point 10530). Lots of snow from recent storm cycle. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/n6bt0tqdwzqs6nrg48hv6p3o37s4?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=2e0ff160ea05ac8055ab88727403a61a','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Lost Lake with lots of fresh snow. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/kge2tw7axnuw19uph938en14yps7?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=1648cbf48f1c14d161b67dfebcf8464f','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)