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Be wary of avalanche danger in backcountry |
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Monday, January 09, 2012 10:06 |
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Photo by The Associated Press
By JANICE KURBJUN, SUMMIT DAILY NEWS
Saturday's snowfall, which didn't bond well to old snow surfaces, brought Summit County and Vail avalanche danger to “considerable” on northwest through northeast to south aspects above tree line.
It fell on crusts on sunny slopes to facets on shady slopes to wind-scoured hard slabs on wind-exposed slopes above tree line.
“The saving grace is that the winds really eased once the snow started to accumulate,” avalanche forecaster Brian Lazar said in his report on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website.
Nonetheless, the lack of snowfall, varying temperatures and high wind movement makes for a dangerous environment in the backcountry. Snowpack above tree line is most precarious, with continuous slabs loaded by strong winds.
The slabs soften by tree line, but the combination makes it “easier to find and trigger slabs in the near-tree line elevation band,” Lazar said.
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