SNOWBLOG

Colorado Sees Major Avalanche Cycle

By Bob Berwyn, 1-09-07

Big snows and high winds in Colorado have resulted in an extensive natural avalanche cycle, especially in the northern mountains, but also in the San Juans, where both natural and triggered releases have been reported in many areas. Some of the natural slides have run big and deep, and forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center are warning backcountry travelers that the slide hazard is rated as “considerable” in most mountain areas above tree line. Natural avalanches are possible, and triggered slides are likely on steeper wind-loaded slopes. The avy center is reporting skier-triggered slides from the South San Juans (around Telluride and Red Mountain Pass), as well from Eagle County, where a snowboarder on Monday set off a slide in the popular East Vail Chutes, a side-country run near the ski area. In the Current Creek drainage near Berthoud Pass, snowpack is so tender that the center reports an avalanche that was triggered remotely, from a few hundred yards away. Most of the slides have run in the recent new snow layers, but those slabs are beefy, due to wind transport. Some of the fractures have been several feet deep, and as much as 1,000 feet across. The winds have even stripped the snow from some lee slopes and created avalanche starting zones much farther down-slope than usual. It’s a good time to practice safe route-finding skills and practice beacon searches with a buddy.

On the mountain literary scene, the iconoclastic Mountain Gazette is closing up shop in Frisco and moving to Paonia, freelance writer Kim Marquis reported for the Summit Daily News. A two-month hiatus is planned, and when the Gazette relaunches, probably in March, look for a smaller, thinner product. The mag, distributed around the Rockies and wider West, has a loyal following of readers looking for something a little more substantial than the latest top-10 hot spot list. But according to Marquis, the Gazette has lost money with each issue. The Gazette was bought in September by newly formed GSM Media, including a handful of action sports publishing vets including Marc Sani, publisher of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, and Felix Magowan, chief executive officer of Inside Communications, the company that publishes VeloNews and, until recently, Ski Racing. Paul Gibb, financial adviser to High Country News, is also part of the group, according to Ski Press World.

The Telluride Watch is also full of ski-related features this week, including a story on Telluride ski patroller Jake Christian’s wild ride in an avalanche in the French Alps, where he was working as part of a exchange program. According to the Watch, the slide was triggered by another group of skiers higher on the slope. Christian was buried for 10 to 15 minutes under several feet of snow before being rescued by a group of English skiers equipped with beacons.

The Watch also reported on the 12th annual Ouray Ice Festival (Jan. 10-14), describing how the event generates up to $250,000 for the town, usually quite sleepy during the winter. The festival attracts climbers from around the world. The town has developed a man-made ice climbing park, and along with competitive events, there’s also a Kids Climbing College, with participants as young as six or seven.

Finally, the Watch also reports that the Peaks Resort & Golden Door Spa, a luxury hotel at Telluride Mountain Village, is planning a $60 million renovation and conversion into a condominium hotel configuration.

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