Colorado Wet Slide Danger VERY HIGH This Week

Temps will not get down to freezing over the next few days even up high. Even mornings could be sketchy in the BC. Colorado Avalanche Info Center issued an unscheduled update this morning. Summit County avy hotline is:

970-920-1664

After this update was posted this morning, I heard an additional announcement on the radio that the high temps are forecast to produce a significantly dangerous wet slide cycle over the next few days. Figured I would pass this along to any interested parties.

I was slated to do Quandry on Wednesday morning, but I've decided to scrap it.

My bad...that number above is for another hotline that is no longer updating...

The summit county avy hotline is 970-668-0600

I see no harm in this appearing in ski/snowboard.. I think people should be aware even though I'd hope they would be already...

Been freezing pretty well above 11K the past few nights. Radiational cooling has done wonders as well. My advice:

Pay attention to the aspects and elevations of where you are skiing. Those areas that got decent amounts of snow last week are probably not the best places to be when it gets warm in the afternoon. Slopes that have sloughed or got little to no new snow should be fine just as long as you are skiing them at a reasonable hour.

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Originally Posted by iskibc

Been freezing pretty well above 11K the past few nights. Radiational cooling has done wonders as well. My advice:

Pay attention to the aspects and elevations of where you are skiing. Those areas that got decent amounts of snow last week are probably not the best places to be when it gets warm in the afternoon. Slopes that have sloughed or got little to no new snow should be fine just as long as you are skiing them at a reasonable hour.

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You'd normally think that off by noon and you're safe in May. I think this week may be different. The CAIC announcement I heard on the radio gave me the willies enough to scrap my Wednesday skin/ski on Quandry.

Same situation in the northwest.

The question I have though is would high traficked/skier compacted slopes (as in a since closed lift-served ski area) be relatively safe given that the compaction would decrease the weakness of any persistent layers? Assuming of course that the compaction has happened since any significant snowfall.

I'm not an avy expert (only level I cert. ) but I'd gander to say that it depends on how hot it is. If it's hot enough to cause running water in the snowpack it could be dangerous regardless of how many skiers have compacted it.

Other thoughts? Iski I'm looking in your direction...

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Originally Posted by nutcase

Same situation in the northwest.

The question I have though is would high traficked/skier compacted slopes (as in a since closed lift-served ski area) be relatively safe given that the compaction would decrease the weakness of any persistent layers? Assuming of course that the compaction has happened since any significant snowfall.

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Look at what happened at A-basin in May of 2005. There's your answer.

The big factor into the spring avalanche equation is timing. You can never be on top of your run too early. If you have to wait a little bit, or even a long while, it's better than being too late. Get up early and get down in time for lunch.


edit: Got out this morning and climbed to 13,200', was skiing by 11 AM. Found no warning signs or instability and didn't see much in terms of natural activity. Best spring corn I've skied in a long while. There was an alright freeze above 10K last night. Stayed on top of the snow all the way up, and had a nice 1.5" of soft snow on top for our bootpack up the final section of our run. I bet that same slope would have been a bit sketchy come mid-late afternoon.

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Originally Posted by iskibc

Look at what happened at A-basin in May of 2005. There's your answer.

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I'm guessing this is what you are referring to http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...asin+avalanche

There is some good info in that thread regarding my question. Thanks.

A bunch of us are headed up to Francie's cabin this weekend. We are concerned about the warm temps. Wet slide activity can be managed by following iskibc's advice, but I worry about the snow rotting out around the cabin, making for a death slog to the goods...

Here is to a good, hard radiational refreeze.

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Originally Posted by iskibc

edit: Got out this morning and climbed to 13,200', was skiing by 11 AM. Found no warning signs or instability and didn't see much in terms of natural activity. Best spring corn I've skied in a long while. There was an alright freeze above 10K last night. Stayed on top of the snow all the way up, and had a nice 1.5" of soft snow on top for our bootpack up the final section of our run. I bet that same slope would have been a bit sketchy come mid-late afternoon.

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Thanks for the info... Where'd you go specifically?

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Originally Posted by white

Thanks for the info... Where'd you go specifically?

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Red Peak in the Gore Range. Skied Pacific Peak in the tenmile today. There must have been a bunch of wet activity after we called it quits (early afternoon) yesterday, as there were naturals all over the place this morning.

Today was a different story in terms of activity. Lot's more of it than what we saw yesterday. Conditions were great above 12,500'. Below that things were interesting. Mostly slow surface (top 1-2") slough moving , but did notice some cornices coming down and larger slides around rock outcroppings. Temps were at 27 degrees at 6AM this morning, so there was a slight freeze overnight. However, that warm sun worked every aspect really quick this AM. Lower angled slopes are your best bet. Didn't see anything moving on slopes in the 25-32 degree range. Most activity was on high 30s-high 40s slopes.

thanks for the beta. You get out a lot, I'm jealous and I want your job, whatever it is. Work is seriously cutting into my spring skiing time.

I think Nealric and Geomatt were going to ski quandary yesterday, I'll see if they have any more input but either way, this weekend is looking to be a 'get drunk, grill meat and chill at the basin' kind of weekend. Not so much for snow/avalanche conditions rather, this is the last time I'll get to chill at the beach this season...And yes, if Pali were open we'd wear beacons...

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Originally Posted by white

thanks for the beta. You get out a lot, I'm jealous and I want your job, whatever it is. Work is seriously cutting into my spring skiing time.

I think Nealric and Geomatt were going to ski quandary yesterday, I'll see if they have any more input but either way, this weekend is looking to be a 'get drunk, grill meat and chill at the basin' kind of weekend. Not so much for snow/avalanche conditions rather, this is the last time I'll get to chill at the beach this season...And yes, if Pali were open we'd wear beacons...

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Yeah, my job does allow me to get out often, but it's not going to make me rich:D .

Noticed lot's of running water underneath the snow the past few days. Things are melting super fast. The dust layer is really wreaking some havoc out there right now. Especially notice it on lower angled, lower elevation slopes. Deep collapsing on areas where the dust layer is on the surface. Watch out for those spots.

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Originally Posted by iskibc

...The dust layer is really wreaking some havoc out there right now. Especially notice it on lower angled, lower elevation slopes. Deep collapsing on areas where the dust layer is on the surface. Watch out for those spots.

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I saw it beginning to surface a couple weeks ago. I've never seen anything quite like it. I did find that on the sunny lower elevation slopes, I was confusing the dust layer with plain 'ol watermelon snow. Or maybe I wasn't...Have you seen any watermelon snow this year? It's been so warm that I'm pretty sure it could have formed in some spots. Any tricks for differntiating between watermelon snow and the dust layer?

Also, back in Feb. I found the dust layer as a crust about 3 feet deep up on Berthoud (mines/hells half acre). Beneath it there was some of the most unconsolidated, faceted shit I've ever seen. What's happened to that with all the running water in the snowpack?

Forgive me if i'm using you as my personal avy advisor, but, a) it's interesting and b) i'm at work and very bored...

I've seen some nice looking lines on Bartlett, south of Pacific and Fletcher. Know who's been up there?

In post #12, iskibc describes the conditions we encountered on Pacific on Wednesday.

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Originally Posted by Jtoke

I've seen some nice looking lines on Bartlett, south of Pacific and Fletcher. Know who's been up there?

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I love that area. Bartlett holds some really nice lines. So does Drift Peak. So does Arkansas. So does Atlantic. So does Fletcher. I could go on and one:biggrin: Love that area.

Here's a link to our trip to Bartlett last spring. It's looking really good right now. Easy approach too.

Bartlett Mountain TR

Dave,
I might get off my ass and make some turns this weekend....do you recommend aiming for N. Faces primarily or is it just a timing thing. (i.e. is it too tough/early to time E-S-W aspects?)

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Originally Posted by homerjay

Dave,
I might get off my ass and make some turns this weekend....do you recommend aiming for N. Faces primarily or is it just a timing thing. (i.e. is it too tough/early to time E-S-W aspects?)

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We're going on day 5 of hot weather. Looks like it's been getting even warmer these past two days. Your best bet would be to aim your sights on something low angled and high elevation. Most wet activity is occurring on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Plan on skiing your line sometime around 10AM-11AM.

if you cant point it out of a wet slide i dont know what to say. i mean, shit.

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Originally Posted by AKA

if you cant point it out of a wet slide i dont know what to say. i mean, shit.

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You can say; it wasn't meant to be, if you catch my double interpretation;)