Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[TahoeJ]

Agree with TahoeJ its presence is patchy (and it is making me dig more pits than usual).

We dug a few hasty pits yesterday and didn't find that buried hoar layer once but triggered it both on north and east aspects (the latter on purpose stomping from the ridge). Finally gave up on the pits and just managed terrain assuming anything might still pull loose.

Looking forward to some resort skiing the next few days.

[montanaskier]

Straight up spring in Eagle Cty....decks, beers, and bluegrass season!

[The SnowShow]

Yep: spring in Denver/Boulder. Biking, climbing, grilling. Where did winter go?

[simple]

Solar

[Lindahl]

Breck was pretty damn good this weekend. Lake Chutes and 6.5 were killer yesterday. Smooth as fuck and loaded up to a foot in areas.

How would warmth lock up a buried surface hoar layer?

Melt. Its been pretty damn warm down low lately. Been out of town though, so I haven't been able to see for myself.

[Name Redacted]

Melt. Its been pretty damn warm down low lately. Been out of town though, so I haven't been able to see for myself.

Yeah, not that warm, and it's been breezy so that kept melt to a minimum. I think you'd need a substantial amount of melt to affect the buried SH when buried 1-3 feet. I did ski BC the other day and it was warm but icy. Still talking about it as a concern on the CAIC though.

[BFD]

blasphemy, skiing bigger lines in january

[Name Redacted]

blasphemy, skiing bigger lines in january

Skied a few bigger lines in recent weeks and that has been pretty cool, but conditions were not that great for actual skiing. Windfucked couloirs around these parts. Low avy danger, but slide for life scenario is a real possibility. Not that there aren't ways to avoid that and get good conditions too though.

[summit]

I would maybe add
5. Destroyed by rain (not likely here, but common in coastal snowpacks)
6. Destroyed by wind (if it isn't buried too deeply)

5. ya... ew... (falls under 4. melting)
6. Very good point

We dug a few hasty pits yesterday and didn't find that buried hoar layer once but triggered it both on north and east aspects (the latter on purpose stomping from the ridge). Finally gave up on the pits and just managed terrain assuming anything might still pull loose.

That is why SH scares me...
If you know exactly where to look you can usually find it in a pit if it is there... but not always... better to go where you think it isn't.
SH notorious for killing avalanche pros

[simple]

Still dumping in Jackson Hole. Winter just isn't quitting

[TahoeJ]

Breck was pretty damn good this weekend. Lake Chutes and 6.5 were killer yesterday. Smooth as fuck and loaded up to a foot in areas.

Hit and miss today. Dropped over one cornice and found nice creamy turns most of the way down. Dropped again further down the ridge off Peak 6 in what looked like identical snow and was lucky to pull it together. Wind fucked.

That's some fun new terrain though, with a short hike from the lift (haven't been here in 5 years).

[The SnowShow]

Yeah, I really like the new Peak 6 stuff. Those lines off the ridge in the middle/right of your pic are sick.

[hatchgreenchile]

I believe it's a fairly recent change, but CAIC WRF now has a higher resolution (2.5 kilometers) model available on their site. Go ahead and geek out and watch the pretty colors of this upcoming storm.

Heading down to Silverton Friday, loving this forecast!

[goldenboy]

6" and counting, still looking like another good one in CB.

I love my avy center. Here's the current snowpack problem, as explained by Jenga. They crack me up.

[Name Redacted]

6" and counting, still looking like another good one in CB.

I love my avy center. Here's the current snowpack problem, as explained by Jenga. They crack me up.

They should teach Jenga in Avy II. Brilliant

[ColMan]

Someone got really lucky in Big Eyes.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/ob...97&view=public

[summit]

Someone got really lucky in Big Eyes.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/ob...97&view=public

luck is an understatement

[Name Redacted]

That's a crazy slide in a long, narrow, rocky couloir to end up at the bottom unhurt. Definitely a lucky guy.

[Lindahl]

Yikes. Yeah that W entrance loads like a motha

[rmnpsplitter]

6" and counting, still looking like another good one in CB.

I love my avy center. Here's the current snowpack problem, as explained by Jenga. They crack me up.

I grew up with Zach (guy in the vid). Haven't seen him in forever!

[simple]

luck is an understatement

That write up seems awfully familiar. Someone with knowledge....

[summit]

That write up seems awfully familiar. Someone with knowledge....

Indeed. Sounds like they will tell us more later.

Nobody I've asked knows

[adrenalated]

Nobody I've asked knows

Ditto

Rowdy place to go for a ride, glad they are OK.

[simple]

Indeed. Sounds like they will tell us more later.

Nobody I've asked knows

I know two groups who did it in past few days.

[simple]

Raining in Steamboat