CAIC

Details

BC Zone: Front Range
Area Description: Area known as the "Hollywood Cliffs" West Side of Berthoud Pass off of the Summit Lot

Ridgeline Wind Speed: 10-20 mph
Ridgeline Wind Direction: SW
Wind Loading: Moderate
Temperature: 15 F
Sky Cover: Overcast
Depth of Total Snow: 138 cm
Most Significant Precip Rate: S1 - 1 cm/hr
Weather Description: The recent storm snow and winds was starting to subside and visibility was increasing.

Snowpack Description: Our Snowpack observations were taken below the slide path on the same aspect below treeline. We completed a full profile along with CT, ECT and PST tests. See Snow Pilot Attached. In Summary we found a weak faceted basal layer under a thick and stiff mid-pack containing several buried surface hoar layers and about 35 cm of new snow on top.

Cracking: Moderate
Collapsing: Rumbling
Comments: Our party toured on mostly West and South Aspects Below and Near Treeline. We observed cracking and loud whumphing near treeline where there was stiffer wind deposited snow. As we approached our Pit Site below treeline near the slide path we experienced widespread and loud collapsing on East/NorthEast Aspects

Avalanche Description: Our party was gearing up in the Summit lot of Berthoud Pass in full view of the "Hollywood Cliffs." We watch several skiers/riders descend the slope adjacent to where the slide occurred. We then observed a skier descending further to the skier's left of the others and about 5 turns in they trigger the slide on the right flank. The fracture propagated out the the skier's left and slide over the cliffs resulting in a large powder cloud.

Date

Location/Path

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

2019/12/15

Berthoud Pass west side

AS / u