CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Monday, December 9, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Sawatch Range

Details

Date: 2019/12/09

Observer: Rich Rogers
Organization: Public

Location

BC Zone: Sawatch Range
Area Description: Independence Pass, NNE Brumley

Weather

Weather Description: Temps: low-mid 20 Winds: Light BTL, Mod. NTL/ATL Sky: Snowing S1, with short moments with BKN clouds Blowing snow: YES

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: 3 Collapses on up track NTL on N and E aspects. New snow provided great skiing on the way down. Previous day, CT 13 and 16 SDN @ 37 cm. ECTP 16 SDN @ 37cm, NTL 11,100ft cottonwood pass Denny Creek NE aspect.

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: R3, D2 Ground showing ENE 35-49 Deg. slope Unintentional remote triggered by collapse NTL, 70 ft laterally from left flank (20-24 Deg slope), approx. 400-500ft down slope from crown. Ran 700-800 ft linear feet, 300 vertical feet. 200 feet wide Felt collapse, less than 30 sec. avalanche ran by fast.

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2019/12/09 ^†

Independence Pass-East side

1

TL

NE

SS

AS / r

R3

D2

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> few mins before trigger point (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/wg8gbivrrai85prsnzkhdh9qvvro?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=fc8c52b1a5eb3fbc873022e571b56f8a','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Crown (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/7vz09nwzlmh2vwbb0xh01v2pamet?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=4b500594b81bd63af5da8a6c9a606ed7','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Just above trigger point. Trees to the left semi-blocked view of crown at time of trigger, approx 1 pm. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/pwpbthsqr3tojbnesco480ruyxrq?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d766a028e37d0a179bbb4768d9e8cce0','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Crown height estimated 4-5ft at tallest point (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/dle5kum8kmw05z5wvtwotbnyt7a6?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=af89e943bb0aba46c492fc9f42db4104','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> Left flank looking up path. Propagation far around right flank. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/3bk948krz4wt6vhvaicfpsjrxve9?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d17bc74d646c8aecaf31042dccdb8a7f','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 6:</b> Left flank looking down path, ran down well into open flat, encompassing small trees in center of photo (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/b0xjtcrzxa3esrs2vnnn329ejsur?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=392f46b6afecacdb609cb72372bd6319','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)