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Avalanche danger 'considerable' |
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 17:51 |
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The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reporting "considerable" avalanche danger across much of Colorado's high country following Monday's snowstorm, which dumped more than a foot on some mountains.
Snow has blown onto sensitive wind slabs on the north through east to south aspects near and above treeline, the center reports.
Anyone playing in the backcountry can trigger a wind slab large enough to bury him on a wind-loaded slope over 30 degrees, and storm slabs can be triggered on wind-sheltered slopes steeper than 35 degrees below treeline where new snow is perched on top of very weak snow.
Conditions also are ripe for natural avalanches, the CAIC reports, and for low-angle terrain avalanches near steep slopes.
"With more snow and wind in the forecast, expect avalanche danger to remain elevated this week," wrote John Snook in Wednesday's morning avalanche forecast.
TRAINING
The CAIC and Mountain Rescue Aspen are holding an Avalance Awareness Workshop Friday and Saturday in Aspen.
You can learn about hazard evaluation, companion rescue, route selection and safe travel techniques. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Little Nell Hotel in downtown Aspen. There's a Friday evening talk and a field day Saturday with group rescue exercise. Cost is $30.
For up-to-date avalanche information:
CAIC website or call 520-0020 in the Springs.
Phone numbers for other areas:
Fort Collins: 970-482-0457
Summit County: 970-668-0600
Buena Vista: 719-395-4994
Durango: 970-247-8187
Aspen: 970-920-1664
Denver: 303-275-5360
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