Avalanches: We received a report of a skier triggered avalanche on Schuykill Ridge above the Slate River today. The skier was caught, carried, and injured. The victim was evacuated by helicopter to Gunnison, and is reportedly in stable condition. Our sincere condolences go out to the victim, family, and friends. The slide was reportedly triggered near the ridgeline on Schuykill Ridge, as the skier was dropping into a North or Northeast facing bowl near treeline. It broke an estimated 25-30′ wide, and several feet deep. The skier was carried approximately 150 to 200 feet before getting stopped by a tree, and the debris ran roughly 500 feet. A forecaster from the CBAC will be investigating the avalanche tomorrow, and we will post information as it becomes available.

Weather: Approximately 1in of low density snow fell overnight in the tour area. Light snow in the morning clearing around 9:30. Clouds returned with light snow around 1230. Winds were light from the northwest on ridgetops.

Snowpack: Little evidence of overnight wind transport. Yesterday’s tracks were not completely obscured, and little evidence of deposition from west winds was noted along the ridge. Snow immediately below ridge was still soft. Released one small shallow slab on a crossloaded feature although it failed to propagate more than 10ft. No other signs of instability were noted. Closer to the valley bottom the effect of temperature was evident as the surface snow became much more dense and cohesive.

Name: Chad Reich
Title: Skiing
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 12/17/2014
Aspect: South East
Elevation: 12,400

Avalanches: Observed 2 slides that had already happened on Axtel’s north face below the Wang Chung face, but we couldn’t tell if they were natural or skier-triggered. They were each R1’s, but they would probably have been big enough to injure or kill a skier.

Weather: Lightly snowing (>s1), with strong and sustained winds on the upwards of 20 mph coming from the N. Despite the winds, no cross/lee loading was observed, but it was snowing….Temps were about 20 at the TH and 10 at the summit.

Snowpack: About 4-6″ of new, unconsolidated pow on top of a firm, supportable crust. No high speed sloughing observed on the way down.

No signs of instability aside from small pocket in Way Long.  No cracking, No Collapses.  No sluffs even!  Will be interesting to see in days to come if slab becomes more reactive as slab consolidates…test pit in shade of Knob Steep produced no results in ECT.

Observer: Donny Roth
Date: 2014-12-15
Location: Schuylkill Ridge
Elevation: 9000′ to 11,422′
Aspect: E to NE

Weather: Clear, Calm and 15 to 20F

Snowpack/Avalanche Obs: HS 90cm (max), Ski Pen 20 to 30 cm (off skin track), Boot Pen 70cm, 15 to 20 cm of new snow, very low density, mostly in tact dendrites, the mid-pack is stiffer in isolated areas but mostly the snowpack was new snow on top of facets.  First run in “Thanksgiving” produced significant sloughing, which slowed as angle of slope decreased – it didn’t go far.  Second run on “Lost Ski” (?) didn’t produce any activity at all.  The lower slopes (below 10,000′) seemed to be the “slabbiest” – obviously a product of down valley winds.

Observer: Ross (Irwin Guides)
Date: 12/14/14
Location: Red Lady Glades
Elevation: 12400-9400
Aspect: SW

Weather: Overcast ovc, snowing lightly S1 in the morning. S2 afternoon. Moderate winds from the W.

Snowpack/Avalanche Obs: From the Emmons summit we skied towards Evans basin on a thin wind blown surface. 10 to 20cm deep. on a mixture of wind a sun crusts. In the shaded timber 15-20cm of new snow lays on a facet base and in the sunny areas the new snow rests on sun crusts. No activity seen throughout the day from ski cuts and no results from hand sheers. Not enough snow for CT or ECT’s