CAIC

Details

Date: 2010/12/20

Observer: Brian Lazar
Organization: Forecast Staff, Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Location

BC Zone: Front Range
Area Description: Berthoud Pass north to 1st Creek.

Weather

Ridgeline Wind Speed: Unknown
Ridgeline Wind Direction: SW
Wind Loading: Unknown
Temperature: 30 F
Sky Cover: Overcast
Depth of New Snow: 8 cm
Depth of Total Snow: 150 cm
Most Significant Precip Rate: S2 - 2 cm/hr
Weather Description: warm, calm below treeline with stiffer winds ATL out the SW. Heavy to moderate snowfall throughout the day.

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: snowpack becoming increasingly unstable. Observed both natural an human triggered avalanches near and below treeline on all easterly aspects. All observed slides confined to storm snow. SS 1-3 ft thick.

Avalanches

Date

Location/Path

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

2010/12/20

Berthoud Pass

N / U

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> view of avalanche approaching Teacup Bowl in Current Creek. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/dhaqdowu3f08c5iqedmdy9xbdje4?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=aca91490921f3a180200a32a51d161ca','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

$Figure 2: view of fracture line (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/j67lwqquikjz25gxndhd3uy8v9fx?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=94a9cf335dffde71a37bd5a3292ce93c','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)$ Figure 3: view of SS avalanche in Tea Cup (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/gch5n841jf3uddups9jfgxuys18l?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b6167d298f1dbcc008617aec59b31369','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> view of SS avalanche in Tea Cup (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/gch5n841jf3uddups9jfgxuys18l?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=b6167d298f1dbcc008617aec59b31369','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

$Figure 4: close up view of fracture line. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/e9epl6wvh5nqz55hxzj792jjlwhe?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=c0a0a19848bbcc3656c1a515367e3be3','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)$