CAIC

Details

Date: 2019/01/31

Observer: Sam Gifford
Organization: Public

Location

BC Zone: Front Range
Area Description: Russell Peak Shoulder - Berthoud Pass West

Weather

Weather Description: Wind Speed: Calm/L Wind Loading: Previous Temperature: N/O Sky Cover: CLR Depth of Total Snow: N/O Warm and clear day, Light winds on ridge and Calm below treeline.

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: I did not complete a profile. However observed signs of previous wind loading on adjacent slopes. There was evidence of previously wind loading on the slope that slid. collapsing underfoot and cracking in wind packed surface layers was widespread on SE and S aspects.

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: Berthoud Pass, Russell Peak, 11,800', SE 20190131 15:25 HS-AS/u-R2/D2.5-O Crown Depth: 1-4ft Width: 450ft Fall: 300ft Runout: 750ft Start Zone: T Terminus: BP Bed Surface Layer: U Comments: Large skier triggered avalanche observed on SE aspect below ridge of Russell Peak. Observed multiple ski tracks in area and a single track above the crown terminating at the fracture line. I climbed on to the hard slab debris and completed a coarse beacon search. I did not get consistent signal at any point during the search/climb. After reaching the bed surface above the stauchwall, I observed the the ski tracks exited the flank and led to a skin track heading back towards "Pumphouse." The slide was likely triggered at a spot where the snowpack was thin as the crown was most shallow near the entry ski track. I exited the left flank and followed the skin track eventually bringing me back to "WYSkis" Then I descended to the summit parking lot. I asked around if anyone had seen or heard about the avalanche. Eventually, met a gentleman from who said he triggered it while attempting to traverse above the slope to "safer" adjacent slopes. **He was not familiar with the area and was not carrying rescue equipment or wearing a transceiver**

Date

Location/Path

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

2019/01/31 ^†

AS / u

D2.5

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Large Hard slab avalanche in Berthoud Pass, Russell Peak SE (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/venhewodvswq9viv13ndf0ky3ujd?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=1427af55b67c7878c5ac8292e0f13bef','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Hard slab debris and runout from above stauchwall. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/ei8temb6iigy939836qngsdgdyvc?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=3302f9e5a549fab455ed8ee22e2db862','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Lookers Left of crown (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/18szj29tzc50mmdf75frb4onamsb?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=0cc5828097f87a77c39f63da7640a0da','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Estimated slide path (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/jtz1uwyz58e8erh1hlvmvfmpw8t2?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d694d47e1683b9f05b2dcb4db7e246d1','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

$<b>Figure 5:</b> Close up of left flank of fracture and some of the crown in background (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/r55xn2e5nqc80xu6pks5fk6y9jqj?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=9ae98a9ce9684ad44eabfde826afe4d2','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)$