Berthoud Pass Avalanches

**encore** · 01-21-2008, 11:48 AM

From CAIC 01/21/08, "One new human triggered slide from the Berthoud Pass area on Saturday. This hard soft slab was on a NNE aspect near, to just above treeline in an area of shallower snow, around rock bands. Fracture up to 2 feet deep, ran about 200 vertical."

Anyone know where this was?

I know this is not something we want to think about, but how much longer before someone gets seriously hurt or dies at BP this year?

Just seems that are too many venturing out not taking precautions at BP. Is it because the past two years have been relatively stable? Is it becasue BP is a "familiar" area.

**murph** · 01-21-2008, 12:34 PM

Was up there yesterday and don't recall seeing any super obvious slide activity in current creek area.

**Rontele** · 01-21-2008, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by encore

From CAIC 01/21/08, "One new human triggered slide from the Berthoud Pass area on Saturday. This hard soft slab was on a NNE aspect near, to just above treeline in an area of shallower snow, around rock bands. Fracture up to 2 feet deep, ran about 200 vertical."

Anyone know where this was?

I know this is not something we want to think about, but how much longer before someone gets seriously hurt or dies at BP this year?

Just seems that are too many venturing out not taking precautions at BP. Is it because the past two years have been relatively stable? Is it becasue BP is a "familiar" area.

I think there are numerous causes. 1) variability in the snowpack. you can ski one run on a bomber pack and be lulled into believing that the entire pack is that stable; and, 2) what you mentioned, that folks are not recognizing that this season does not have the last two seasons's stability.

good thread.

**encore** · 01-22-2008, 09:50 AM

Bump. No other comments?

**summit** · 01-22-2008, 09:56 AM

I always wondered about these factors (not specifically for BP, but in general):

New guys: "The resorts are lame now, brah! The magazine said so! All the pros are in the BC brah! Let's go to the pass and heelside some steeps, brah!"

Old guys: "Damnit! All these brahs are tracking up my normal lines... guess I better push it out some. I need to progress anyways so I still get first tracks and be more core than the brahs."

Snowpack: "My vagina hurts and I have explosive diarrhea"

**lemon boy** · 01-22-2008, 10:02 AM

I think all of the above is at least partly true.

Some other factors:
The pass has a lot of relatively new, slightly experienced skiers
The pass has a lot of longtime pass skiers that may misjudge conditions and slopes on long past history
The pass has a lot of full on avalanche terrain that is easy to access and easy to get sucked into.

**encore** · 01-22-2008, 10:09 AM

I had never thought of that Summit. It does seem that the magazines are really pushing the backcountry last year and this year.

Also, I think many are skiing lines that have tracks on them and are assumming they are safe.

**stupendous man** · 01-22-2008, 10:43 AM

I doubt I would ski the 90s if I came upon them in a tour. But a lot of road side berthoud is skied more than many in-bounds areas. I agree as the snow fades other lines become intriguing. I haven't done skull bite or hidden knoll this year out of these snowpack concerns. Has anyone been back that way?

**Rontele** · 01-22-2008, 11:02 AM

I also think that Berthoud this year has one of the weakest packs statewide and combined with higher levels of skier traffic.

**encore** · 01-22-2008, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Rontele

I also think that Berthoud this year has one of the weakest packs statewide and combined with higher levels of skier traffic.

That's for sure. The Floral Park Pick up now looks like the Loveland Pass pick up - a shit load of snowboarders with no gear.

**Dobish** · 01-24-2008, 10:59 AM

not to mention that on the nw and n aspects, the snowpack was really odd when we were out there digging pits. very low energy to get things to slide to the ground, with no weak layers in between the top and the bottom... that was 2 weeks ago.

**coloskier** · 01-29-2008, 05:57 PM

From CAIC today...

Over the weekend, a skier triggered a VERY deep slab near Berthoud Pass. We have received many reports about this slide, some estimating the crown in excess of 20 feet!

Anyone have a picture of this? Or at least know where it is, I haven't been up there in a week or so?

edit: sounds like it was in second creek, still wouldn't mind seeing a pic though