Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Much shallower snowpack in this area than in most of the Sawatch zone.

Weak snowpack, however the lack of slab in the snowpack promote good stability.

Clouds quickly moved in from the south. Winds increased out of the SW and were strong enough to move surface snow around. Temperatures remained cool. Snow started to fall around 3:00 pm and precipitation intensity has increased ever since.

This is a benched but very lengthy highway avalanche path - a long stretch of hwy exposure. It is generally a planar slope but with undulations that cross load with southerly winds. This path has gained unusual volume this winter. The mid-pack is stout. Feel the upper-most instabilities will heal with time. This pit confirms that any future issues with this path will be with mostly storm snow