CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Front Range

Details

Date: 2019/12/19

Observer: Ryan Zarter
Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

BC Zone: Front Range

Avalanches

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2019/12/19

Loveland Pass-Northside

1

>TL

E

HS

AR / U

R2

D2

View

2019/12/18

Loveland Pass-Northside

1

>TL

E

HS

U

R2

D2

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Snowboarder triggered avalanche on and east aspect above treeline near Loveland Pass, 19 Dec 2019. The rider's track into the avalanche is visisble in the top center of the crown. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/wqqfkx2trymlm7zcvyflonze55aa?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=58c76ad2f58d5f153bf32bfdaff33701','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Avalanche on an east aspect above treeline near Loveland Pass, photo taken on 19 Dec 2019. Trigger is unknown, but there are numerous ski tracks in the immediate vicinity. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/34o2p3q4kd9gffajrqku1ciegjcd?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=5e6be45de08edfb2c7c6de6233daeae5','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Overview of two avalanches, one of which was snowboarder triggered, on an east aspect above treeline near Loveland Pass, 19 Dec 2019. Numerous ski tracks are in the vicinity of both slides. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/wxdr0brh8f9d58ufjkfydgs31bij?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=dacd7b8046b173702a134094a07e7772','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> [Dale Atkins/Alpine Rescue Team photo and annotation] The first picture (below) is from 0800 this morning, and it shows a very fresh slide most likely triggered this morning. Though I have a question mark next to it, I am quite sure it was made this morning. Zooming in to the looker’s right is a rider’s track. Suspect this rider was the trigger from down low in the path. At some point during the day, another rider descended very close to track.

In the photo below, as you go NE along the ridge you’ll see another track, but it is not as fresh looking, so I figure it was likely made yesterday. Right where this track was made was where today’s avalanche occurred. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/xgazdjmm7rjoh6ad0azpt592xgxc?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d08f0ca374540b4326ef6e39ac054b60','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> [Dale Atkins/Alpine Rescue Team photo and annotation] To the looker’s right is snowboard track and a dog track, also made today. The avalanche overran a portion of the rider's track. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/f6nymwf0sq4gbiurpp5n9s9ujotx?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=db46ecc6d9f5f82210f4e498e607c5f9','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)