Details
- Observer: blase reardon
- Organization: Forecaster, CAIC
CAIC Comments
From a phone conversation with the injured victim. A party of 3 snowboarders had been filming higher in the bowl, where there found 10" or so of light new snow. They rode down the ridge and entered a slope where the snow felt heavier - maybe a little windloaded. They rode this slope at the same time. About 300 vertical feet below the ridge and just below a big tree that was near a convexity, the slope avalanched. It broke above them and all three were caught and carried several hundred feet down the slope. The debris did not reach the main runout. Rider 1 was partially buried, Rider 2 was buried to his waist, and Rider 3 was pinned against a tree and covered with snow. He as able to move one hand and break an opening to the surface. He may have been able to clear some snow from his face. His companions told him he was turning blue when they got to him. He was later found to have a broken rib and strained back. The party self-evacuated from there, which involved sideslipping, crawling on all fours, and pushing the injured victim while he lay on his board. At the snow-covered Maroon Creek road, Rider 1 went for help at the T Lazy Seven Ranch. While Riders 1 and 2 were waiting, they were charged by a moose. Three times. With help from the ranch, the party made it to their vehicle and drove themselves to Aspen Valley Hospital. The accident site is roughly 0.1 miles and 200 vertical feet higher than a similar incident on 1/31 (Dark Hollow).
Location
Avalanches
|
2017/02/13 † |
Maroon Creek |
1 |
TL |
N |
SS |
AR / u |
R2 |
D2 |
- Date: 2017/02/13
(Estimated)
- Observer: blase reardon
- Organization: Forecaster, CAIC
- Area Description: Northerly slope in Maroon Bowl (N2). Slope faces NNE (aspect about 25-30*)
- Landmark: Maroon Creek
- Average Slope Angle: 38 °
- Maximum Slope Angle: 41 °
- Elevation: 10650 ft
|
- Sliding Surface: O - Within Old Snow
- Average Crown: 15 in
- Maximum Crown: 24 in
- Maximum Width: 350 ft
- Comments: Avalanche broke above party and near a midslope convexity. It may have pulled back onto slightly lower-angled terrain. Width & slope angle estimated from online satellite and map images.
|
|