CAIC

CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

BC Zone Observation Report

Friday, April 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Vail & Summit County

Details

Date: 2011/04/29

Observer: Ethan Greene
Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

BC Zone: Vail & Summit County
Area Description: Peru Creek - Near Montezuma, between Corkscrew and Cadillac avalanche paths

Weather

Avalanches

Date

Location/Path

#

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

View

2011/04/29

Loveland Pass-Southside

1

>TL

N

HS

N

R5

D4

Media

Images

<b>Figure 1:</b> An overview of the avalanche. The crown face of the slide was at least 10 feet deep. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/u6d0p4fyuzmp65kae1a2tm2yiicp?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=d7f7f60d8fa813a31f2b127a10160e06','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 2:</b> Looking up the avalanche path at work crews fixing the power line. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/ze71stwnqzhnjlbmb9vze2y99r0h?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=17a6d6f6c595b2786410cdc8dd60b52b','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 3:</b> A power line tower destroyed by the avalanche. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/wkh2w56o2hl48movz1xm1bbr42vy?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=99f3250c38f0a7d59cddde23f1465638','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 4:</b> CAIC forecaster John Snook examines trees broken by the avalanche. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/3n6eg12h6g8omah4vxbpmkqwfoqp?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=55a161aded8858b1a7c949eb087d6cc0','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 5:</b> CAIC staff (John Snook and Scott Toepfer) survey the vegetation damage. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/gv6ix7wcmhtycg3e0v90px68n3ui?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=f207c2963c345471de86860efee4d44d','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)

<b>Figure 6:</b> A Google Earth image of the area. The Corkscrew avalanche path is the large path the starts near the summit of Morgan Peak. The avalanche started below the arrow. You can see the power line swath through the trees near the base of the drainage. (<a href=javascript:void(0); onClick=win=window.open('https://caic-production.imgix.net/7hjdskpnkw5gzbbphtlcgjfbfc9c?ixlib=php-3.1.0&s=1329d4c5d71c55eb18d798888e706c56','caic_media','resizable=1,height=820,width=840,scrollbars=yes');win.focus();return false;>see full sized image</a>)