CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Monday, January 20, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Vail & Summit County

Details

Date: 2020/01/20

Observer: Public

Location

BC Zone: Vail & Summit County
Area Description: Skiers left of J Chute on Mt Victoria outside of Frisco.

Weather

Weather Description: Calm in the trees, but slight wind from the West on the ridge leading up to summit of Mt. Victoria. Overcast. Good visibility.

Snowpack

Snowpack Description: Around 6 inches of new snow in the trees, and no signs of wind slab. Elevation was around 11,000 feet on a NE facing slope at least 300-400 feet below the ridge in the trees. When digging hand pits, we noticed a weak crust layer about a foot below the surface, but we didn't encounter any slabs at the surface. Our observations occurred in moderately spaced trees, and the slide occurred in an open area with less trees.

Avalanches

Avalanche Description: R2D2 avalanche in the new snow that stepped down. Crown was around 16 inches and 75+ feet wide. Aspect: Northeast. Elevation: 11,000. Slope angle: Low 40's. Skier triggered upon entering an open section in the trees. Skier was carried around 150 feet and was able to grab a tree to avoid being carried to the bottom. Skier was uninjured and was not buried.

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2020/01/20 ^†

10-mile Range

1

<TL

NE

SS

AS / u

R2

D2

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> Crown about 16 inches deep. Spread out to about 75 feet wide. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/jd1wojqjs0sbn6lyfrlyjllm2qg9?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=f9d9eff3c8194b81b2b5ee2580a8217b','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Just below the crown. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/0r6xfoy3vwhg6nmm5ukdo3ouyunh?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=eb2d3bbea3d1518938414b93c4b67488','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> Looking up the slide path from where skier stopped. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/4n77q4y47k4orcepb7od9cbrjq84?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=2ede18a9e103667d91ed987be46e235e','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> Looking at the trees that the skier grabbed to stop. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/4qax0zf11ljrtafdn915h634sqn2?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=7fcdf571d08c2351ab0c11659e86b3e7','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> Location of the slide. Glades to the skiers left of the J Chute on Mt. Victoria just outside of Frisco. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/hya9fpgctzb2x50uxctlovsmqhv0?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=443d269823df6068c887d3dd1de00077','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)