Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[bamboocoreONLY]

A friend of mine down there knew him decently well. Posted this, guess we know exactly why he was alone. Serious vibes for that community!!

[montanaskier]

Chair 5 at Vail spins tomorrow. Lines back there should be crazy since they aren’t packing chairs. Rose Bowl and Larkspur opening today at the Beav was fun. Typical classic gaper carnage in the deep stuff.


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[bean]

The rest of the season hangs in the balance... kickoff in 20

[Danno]

Racing tomorrow is cancelled. I guess they're predicting similar winds as today.

[Danno]

I'm really sorry to hear about your friend, goldenboy. Sounds like a big hit to the community.

[Elkhound Odin]

The rest of the season hangs in the balance... kickoff in 20

35 in the first half? Geeze.......


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[Foggy_Goggles]

I know for many people, myself included, skiing in the backcountry is therapy. Right now, the backcountry is full of people and the snowpack in touchy making it tough to get an appointment with the counselor. Please friends, breath deep, be self-aware and make conservative decisions.

[Kinnikinnick]

Oh no.
Two missing near Silverton. Large avalanche and tracks found overnight

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJBemmtL...d=z1kp15ahqfk8


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[Foggy_Goggles]

https://m.facebook.com/sjcoem/posts/...4824993170?d=m

It is now being reported as a body recovery. RIP.

[ColMan]

Fack. Three killed in two days. RIP.


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[ColMan]

On a more positive note, Pali ran today. Can confirm the seats are comfy.

Early riser lot was only 1/2 full at 8:30. Nice mellow day even with the low tide.


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[I've seen black diamonds!]

Special Announcement from the CAIC
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is urging people headed to the mountains to exercise extra care in the mountains and pay special attention to the avalanche forecast.

“Since Friday three Coloradans lost their lives in avalanche accidents, and 132 avalanches were reported. One hundred and eight avalanches were triggered by people in the last week” said Ethan Greene, Director, Colorado Avalanche Information Center. “More people die in avalanches in Colorado than any other state, and this year conditions are especially dangerous. This is not the landscape-changing event we saw in March of 2019, but it is the weakest snowpack we’ve seen since 2012. People need to recognize we have unusual conditions and their usual practices may not keep them out of harm’s way. As we gain more snow in the coming weeks, avalanches could become even more dangerous. We urge everyone to check the avalanche forecast before you plan your day in the mountains (www.colorado.gov/avalanche), particularly as we enter the holiday season.”

Here are the numbers

In the last week:
380 avalanches reported
108 triggered by people
Since Friday
132 avalanches
49 triggered by people
9 people have been caught in avalanches
3 people were killed in avalanches

Why is this important?
There have been a lot of avalanches and a lot of people are getting caught in them. The snowpack is below average across the state. Avalanches are mostly small, but very easy to trigger. This week, we have seen avalanches grow in size and they are going to continue to get bigger as the mountains get more snow.

We have avalanches every year, why is this different?
Colorado is the home of weak snow and avalanches are not uncommon. This year is worse. We haven’t seen conditions this bad since 2012. Although the avalanche conditions are not unprecedented, they are worse than many people are used to. People are using avalanche-safety strategies that have worked in recent years, but current conditions require additional caution.

What can you do?
The most important thing you can do is check the avalanche forecast before you go into the backcountry. Go to www.colorado.gov/avalanche or get the Friends of CAIC’s mobile app. Look at the current avalanche conditions and plan accordingly. Steep slopes where the snow supports your weight are dangerous. Avalanches are easy to trigger. They can break wider than you expect. You can trigger avalanches from low-angle terrain, below or to the side of a steep slope. If you’re unsure about the conditions, stay on slopes less than 30 degrees steep that are not connected to steeper terrain.

[Rideski]

Cloudy and gale force winds not conducive to JupiterSaturn viewing.

[MakersTeleMark]

I can't say I've ever heard caic say this:

Steep slopes where the snow supports your weight are dangerous.

[~mikey b]

yeah it’s different right now
fkn scary bad

[Name Redacted]

Just wait till it actually snows on top of this crap!

[dub2]

Shaping up to be the worst snowpack in years. We're all used to dealing with the basal facets, but the buried surface hoar from those couple of dry and warm weeks is the icing on the shit cake that is the snowpack right now.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

We're all used to dealing with the basal facets, but the buried surface hoar from those couple of dry and warm weeks is the icing on the shit cake that is the snowpack right now.

People are using avalanche-safety strategies that have worked in recent years, but current conditions require additional caution.

Yeah, I wonder if the typical CAIC "stick to slopes of 30 degrees of less" advice makes sense when surface hoar is involved.

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[summit]

Yes surface hoar is a layer sometimes associated with slab activity on lower than expected angles.

Most of all people should consider locally connected terrain.

NOw is the time to be jotting down where the SH layer was destroyed or survived to be buried..

[cravenmorhead]

I haven't spent any time digging pits, but knocking around on Saturday in some low-consequence terrain I was struck by just how garbage the snowpack looked from looking at what was revealed through pole plants next to the skintrack. Just a mixed bag of garbage between facets and hoar.

[snowaddict91]

Most of all people should consider locally connected terrain.

This. The amount of whomphing and remote triggering right now is pretty wild and its going to get worse with more load.

I couldn't get a good picture but I saw a skier-triggered remote slide propagate across a ridge in the Wasatch the other day. Pretty similar snowpacks right now.

[galibier_numero_un]

Yeah, I wonder if the typical CAIC "stick to slopes of 30 degrees of less" advice makes sense when surface hoar is involved.

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The only positive for me is that the early part of my year (at a minimum) is screwed, due to COVID and the general immune system constraints in the household.

We're seeing experienced folks trivializing the state of the snowpack, including someone you and I know.

PLEASE be your normal self if you go out with him tomorrow and hold your ground as far as decision making is concerned.

... Thom

[I've seen black diamonds!]

The only positive for me is that the early part of my year (at a minimum) is screwed, due to COVID and the general immune system constraints in the household.

We're seeing experienced folks trivializing the state of the snowpack, including someone you and I know.

PLEASE be your normal self if you go out with him tomorrow and hold your ground as far as decision making is concerned.

... Thom

My babysitter is sick. I'll be taking care of a baby.

To be fair to our mutual friend, weren't the pics he shared from before this extended wind event? I hope so.

[The SnowShow]

60° in Denver on the first day of winter. The road biking is good!

[zartagen]

60° in Denver on the first day of winter. The road biking is good!

If you're riding east, maybe