Valind
Active member
Eagle County and
Vail Mountain Rescue are responding to an avalanche at East Vail
Chutes. It happened at around 11:58 a.m. Officials say two people are
involved and one person is unconscious. Crews are working on getting to
the scene but believe it could take several hours.
If you are going, I would check the Avalanche website ....http://avalanche.state.co.us/
Use caution, we are getting a lot of snow this weekend, just think and make sure that you have the proper equipment before heading out to the back country. There have been tons of avalanche calls this week. Check the snow where you are going to hike and before you ski.
You should especially suspect dangerous conditions with a
foot or more of soft, new snow. However, conditions can always be
hairy. Stay on your guard whenever you're around snow-covered mountain
regions.
Rapid snow settlement is actually a favorable sign. Look for
settlement cones around tree trunks and over rocks. Moist, dense
precipitations create those sought-after settlement cones, because the
snowfall settles rapidly.
Lack of settlement is a danger sign; loose, dry snows avalanche
easily. During windy periods all bets are off however, as even these
snows can suddenly become very dangerous.
*Old Snow - When the old snow depth is sufficient to cover natural
anchors, such as rocks and brush, additional snow layers will slide more
readily. Also, the nature of the old snow surface is important. Rough
surfaces are of course favorable for stability; any smooth surfaces,
such as sun crusts, are not.
A loose, underlying snow layer is more dangerous than a compacted
one. You can check this with a ski pole, ski, or snowshoe.
Ever wonder why you see those pro skiers banging the ends of their
poles into a deep snow before beginning a day of skiing? Now you know.
*Crystal Types - All snow is not created equal. You can readily
observe general crystal types by letting them fall on a dark ski mitt or
parka sleeve. Small crystals, such as needles and pellets, result in
more dangerous conditions than the usual star-shaped crystals.
*Wind - Sustained winds of 15 m.p.h. and over during a storm cause
trouble fast. Snow plumes from ridges and peaks indicate that wayward
snow is being blown onto these slopes during clear weather and that
dangerous conditions may be developing, even though it is not storming.
*Temperature - Snow persists in an unstable condition longer under
cold temperatures. It settles and stabilizes more rapidly during warmer
weather that's near or above freezing.
But beware high and rapidly rising temperatures in the spring
months. They may result in wet snow slides, particularly from south-
facing slopes.
*Beware of any rapid change in temperature. Shadows creeping across a
slope may change temperatures enough to create dangerous conditions.
*Snowfall Rate - Snow falling at the rate of one inch per hour or
more increases avalanche danger rapidly.
*Old Slide Paths - An avalanche path that has slid once will slide
again. Look for old scars in timber and avoid steep gullies and steep,
open slopes.
*Recent Avalanche Activity - Look around; if you see new avalanches
you should suspect dangerous conditions.
*Sound and Cracks - If the snow sounds hollow, particularly on a
slope full of wind-blown snow, conditions are probably dangerous; if the
snow covers cracks that are found running in the snow, slab avalanche
danger is high.
Vail Mountain Rescue are responding to an avalanche at East Vail
Chutes. It happened at around 11:58 a.m. Officials say two people are
involved and one person is unconscious. Crews are working on getting to
the scene but believe it could take several hours.
If you are going, I would check the Avalanche website ....http://avalanche.state.co.us/
Use caution, we are getting a lot of snow this weekend, just think and make sure that you have the proper equipment before heading out to the back country. There have been tons of avalanche calls this week. Check the snow where you are going to hike and before you ski.
You should especially suspect dangerous conditions with a
foot or more of soft, new snow. However, conditions can always be
hairy. Stay on your guard whenever you're around snow-covered mountain
regions.
Rapid snow settlement is actually a favorable sign. Look for
settlement cones around tree trunks and over rocks. Moist, dense
precipitations create those sought-after settlement cones, because the
snowfall settles rapidly.
Lack of settlement is a danger sign; loose, dry snows avalanche
easily. During windy periods all bets are off however, as even these
snows can suddenly become very dangerous.
*Old Snow - When the old snow depth is sufficient to cover natural
anchors, such as rocks and brush, additional snow layers will slide more
readily. Also, the nature of the old snow surface is important. Rough
surfaces are of course favorable for stability; any smooth surfaces,
such as sun crusts, are not.
A loose, underlying snow layer is more dangerous than a compacted
one. You can check this with a ski pole, ski, or snowshoe.
Ever wonder why you see those pro skiers banging the ends of their
poles into a deep snow before beginning a day of skiing? Now you know.
*Crystal Types - All snow is not created equal. You can readily
observe general crystal types by letting them fall on a dark ski mitt or
parka sleeve. Small crystals, such as needles and pellets, result in
more dangerous conditions than the usual star-shaped crystals.
*Wind - Sustained winds of 15 m.p.h. and over during a storm cause
trouble fast. Snow plumes from ridges and peaks indicate that wayward
snow is being blown onto these slopes during clear weather and that
dangerous conditions may be developing, even though it is not storming.
*Temperature - Snow persists in an unstable condition longer under
cold temperatures. It settles and stabilizes more rapidly during warmer
weather that's near or above freezing.
But beware high and rapidly rising temperatures in the spring
months. They may result in wet snow slides, particularly from south-
facing slopes.
*Beware of any rapid change in temperature. Shadows creeping across a
slope may change temperatures enough to create dangerous conditions.
*Snowfall Rate - Snow falling at the rate of one inch per hour or
more increases avalanche danger rapidly.
*Old Slide Paths - An avalanche path that has slid once will slide
again. Look for old scars in timber and avoid steep gullies and steep,
open slopes.
*Recent Avalanche Activity - Look around; if you see new avalanches
you should suspect dangerous conditions.
*Sound and Cracks - If the snow sounds hollow, particularly on a
slope full of wind-blown snow, conditions are probably dangerous; if the
snow covers cracks that are found running in the snow, slab avalanche
danger is high.
