Colorado Avalanche Report / November 11, 2012 Snow Storm

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Statewide Avalanche Conditions

Issued: 11/12/2012 5:02 AM by Scott Toepfer

Expires: 11/13/2012 12:00 PM

Highlights

The first major winter storm of the season hit Colorado on Friday and Saturday. Areas favored with snowfall from southwesterly flow did best from this storm. Wolf Creek Pass reported 19" of snow from the storm. Outside of Crested Butte 17" of snow from the storm, and along the Highway 550 corridor in the San Juans from 7.5" to 12.5" of snow was reported at historical snow stakes. Reports indicated significantly more wind drifted snow in wind loaded areas from all these areas. Strong winds accompanied the storm, and as you can expect, a number of avalanches were reported. We've received great observations today. You can use the Observations>Observation Reports>Weather Stations page to track the snowfall through the day at your favorite weather stations. We all anticipated snowfall with this storm, and folks got out into avalanche terrain. It is easy to discount the avalanche potential when there is just a few feet of drifted snow, with grass and flower stalks poking through. Do not get lulled into a sense of complacency. It is time to start thinking about avalanches. Is your avalanche rescue gear ready, and is your brain ready? Some early season reminders from Montana, and in Colorado: Jones Pass, Mt Baldy. If you're out there exploring the early season snowpack, please let us know what you are seeing.

Weather Discussion

The recent storm is moving east and is followed by much colder air. Winds have drifted significant snow into avalanche starting zones. With the cold temperatures expected, instabilities will linger for some time. There are only some weak weather disturbances expected for the early part of the coming week, with little new snow expected until later this coming week. Cold temperatures will slowly ease, but at this time of year, cold equals sugar snow development. Stay tuned to CAIC Weather Forecasts that are updated twice daily. Computer Model Forecasts are updated continuously. If you are going into the Colorado high country use our Weather Stations by Zone page to check current conditions.

Snowpack & Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche season is upon us. If you haven't been thinking about avalanches and terrain consequences you should now. The first major winter storm of the season arrived Friday and Saturday. Dense snowfall and strong winds "shellacked" the high country of the San Juan Mountains, Elk Range, Grand Mesa and the Rabbit Ears Pass area. Human triggered avalanches were reported in the Red Mountain Pass area outside Silverton, from the Elk Range outside Crested Butte, and the west side of the Vail/Summit County zone. Most of these slides were not large, but some were big enough to produce serious injury if not worse. The recent storm was a good snow producer for many areas. The old snow underneath the new storm snow has had plenty of chances to weaken. Even though valley floor temperatures have seemed warm, nights are long, temperatures have dropped well below freezing, and the old snow has become quite weak. In some cases a melt freeze crust has formed at the old snow surface. These are all bad things, and could haunt us well into the coming winter. It is not unusual for avalanche incidents and fatalities to make headlines in our state long before most of us are thinking about the consequences of an early season encounter. Avalanche accidents have occurred in Colorado every month of the year. Avalanches in the early season are less frequent than in mid-winter, but they are possible once snow begins to accumulate. This means that you need to start thinking avalanche again as fall snows begin to accumulate. As the first significant winter storm rolls past Colorado, make sure your gear and your brain are ready. Replace the batteries in your beacon. The CAIC has begun to monitor the 2012-2013 snowpack. It should come as no surprise that once snow begins to accumulate, avalanches, both natural and triggered, can be expected. It is common for us to see reports of people caught in November avalanches every year. An early season encounter with an avalanche will often come with a ride through rocks, downed timber, stumps and other obstacles which can quickly bring an end to your riding season. Always think of what consequences are possible if you were to get caught and take a ride in an avalanche. Until daily public forecasts begin, here are a few things to think about as the winter snowpack develops. °  Fall and a taste of winter have visited Colorado’s high country. Snow began to stick on the higher terrain by mid-September. Every season people have encounters with wintertime slab avalanches as early as August or September.  Anyone traveling in the mountains, including hikers, hunters, sledders, skiers, riders and ice climbers, needs to be aware of the avalanche threat as soon as snow starts to accumulate on steep slopes.   °  People are often misled when they see grass and brush sticking out of the snow surface. You should start thinking about avalanches any time you have snow resting on a steep slope. Remember, all you need is a slab resting on a weak layer of snow. The ground can easily act as a bed surface, even if it’s only a few inches below the snow surface.   °  Old summer snow fields can act as the perfect bed surface too. Hard frozen old snow with new snow on top are common culprits in early season avalanche incidents.   °  Early in the snow season there is not much snow on the ground. This means that rocks and stumps are near the snow surface. If you get caught in an avalanche you might get tumbled through rocks, stumps, and downed timber. These obstacles can do great bodily harm to backcountry users traveling through them at high speeds. Knee pads, helmets and full body armor may not be a solution to this problem. Even a very small slide can cause great harm if the terrain is unfriendly.Don't let an early-season injury ruin your winter!   °  Wind drifts will create thicker slabs. Strong winds can take a three inch snowstorm and quickly build an 18” wind slab. Areas with shallow snow may be very close to deep drifted areas. It may be quite easy to move from a very safe area to a very dangerous area without traveling very far. Wind drifts will be denser than the new snow and thick hard snow on light fluffy snow is a great setup for avalanching.   °  Once the sun returns after a storm cycle and warm temperatures cause the new snow to melt, look to see where the pockets of snow remain. The snow that lingers in sheltered areas and shady slopes could be the weak layer after the next snowfall. These areas could also become recurring problem areas throughout the winter depending on how the winter snowpack develops.   °  Pockets of instability can develop quickly above early season ice climbs. Climbers should know the terrain above their route as rapid warming or heavy wind loading can quickly work to build slab or loose snow avalanches which can nudge a precariously perched climber into a bad fall.   °  Hunters traveling across the high country need to exercise greater caution on steep terrain (steeper than 30 degrees with accumulated snow) when crossing ridges from one valley to another.

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This is an Excellent Avalanche Test from Montana Avalanche Guys / CT Tutorial

Singletrack Obstacles / Two Hour Mountain Bike Ride till Sundown

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Another good day in the woods, obstacles keep the skills and reflexes sharp. Rocks and logs, the two things you don't want to see while snowmobiling in the mountains. Ideally there is at least 4-5 feet of snow covering the landscape, better yet as the winter season progresses we will experience well over 8 feet of snow.

So many of the skills one uses on technical singletrack mountain bike riding can be transferred to the skills and reactions one uses during backcountry snowmobiling. We are boondocking and weaving through the trees and climbing out of ravines. Route selection and the ability to react to obstacles is the key. One of the other benefits of mountain biking is the aerobic nature of the sport so I can ride strong all day long. It is the up and down out of the saddle and the powering up the climbs. I can feel my fitness level getting better each week.

 One of the rock gardens to negotiate on the trail.

 Add the speed and twists of the singletrack along with the flow through the Pines. All the different aspects in the woods make for a good adventure.

Biking the Fall Away

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One week closer to the mountains and the snowmobile / snowboard season. Taking advantage of the great fall weather to log some good singletrack mountain bike miles. Another 2.5 hours yesterday on the bike and heading out right now for some more riding.

4.5 Hours of Singletrack Over 2 Days / Singetrack MTB Riding for the Past 30 Years

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The view from the saddle, leaf covered singletrack.

I've been riding mountain bikes for 30 years and it just doesn't ever get old. I feel as good on the bike...no better than I did back in 1982. Sure there were the years I was racing in the late 80s and 90s and I was faster and more fit, but just riding feels so natural to me now. I learned to ride with very little wasted effort, to flow down the trail. The racing did that, but it was the countless rides I did in the mud and snow and up and down mountain trails that have given me the skills that I use today. I learned more from riding slow tough trails then I did blasting down the trail at warp speed. That's why I say ride slow to go fast.

"BEAR" > 1987-2001

The rest of the MTB story is about my dog named "Bear", half Black Lab half Golden Retriever, 75 pounds of muscle. My dog (god spelled backward), Bear could run 30 miles in a day with me and my bike. Back in the days before riders were afraid of mud, those were my favorite days. After a ride I would hang my bike in the garage and let the mud drip off the bike and I would have to rinse Bear off outside because he would be covered with mud. I taught him to run alongside me and drink my energy drinks as we traveled the trails. Bear would jump up and start whining with excitement as soon as I said " do you want to go for a bike ride".

Winter mountain bike riding was also a thrill as I would ride the frozen snowmobile trails in the dark. Bear loved running in the winter. I remember one night that I left the truck, probably around 1989 or so. It was the dead of winter about 10:30 at night and the temps were about -18 degrees F. It was so cold that I would have to hop off the bike every so often and jog along my bike just to keep my feet warm. I started out with a bandanna over my face to breath warmer air. I had to be careful with Bear also breathing the cold air. It was a great ride and adventure that night, was out about 2.5 hours. I will never forget that ride. Bear had frost all along his back from his breath and I got back to the truck not wanting the night to end. It is like that with many of my adventures...like a great hockey game where 2 teams are so closely matched and they go into overtime and you don't want it to end, but you know it will be a great effort that will win it. That's how a good ride is, don't want it to end, but when it does it is time...

       

 I rode through this patch of light in the woods and had to stop and lean the Salsa in the spotlight.

 The Steele Horse...

 Bike light is mounted and ready, still had several miles to travel on the singletrack to get back to the truck.

 Used the flash in the dark at the trail intersection before the final stretch back.

A Labatt Blue was appropriate with the temps in the 30s when I got back to the truck. Changed out of my riding clothes and into a hoody and warm clothes. Topped it off with a sandwich and a cold one...GOOD TIMES!!

MTB in Da Fall Woods

 

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The pictures tell the story.

My trusty 1x9 Salsa Mountain Bike. Rode out of the woods in the dark with a headlamp with the moon rising in the Eastern sky. In the distance I could hear coyotes howling at the moon or a fresh kill. The Fall season is awesome.

 The trusty backpack with all my possibles. Tools, extra clothes for the seasonal weather changes, Cliffbars and a few first-aid items. Gotta be ready for the unexpected...

By wearing a backpack with my activities it carries over to the next season of backcountry snowmobiling and snowboarding. I'm used to the weight and balance of the pack on my back regardless of my activity.

Fall Days in Minnesota

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Rode the BMW down to my sons house. Grandkids wanted to check out the view from the saddle.

 Swung into the ski hill where I Ski Patrol to renew my CPR certification later on in the afternoon. With the mild weather it was nice enough to do the CPR course outside.

A good day on the motorcycle riding about 170 miles. Visiting my son in southern Minnesota and attending the CPR it was a full day. The motorcycle is a BMW 1200 GS and it is my favorite motorcycle to ride these days. It is great on the highway and if I chose, it will carry me down the dirt roads. The ergonomics make for comfort in the saddle all day. With the BMW saddle bags it is a pleasure to travel with the things you might need.  

Fall Mountain Biking on the Singletrack Trails

 Picked up the grandkid and enjoyed an afternoon on some good singletrack trails on the mountain bikes. It was on the trail system called Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Park.

 I let Jr. lead most of the time.

GOOD TIMES!!

A Cliff Bar midway through the the ride kept the energy level high.

What would Fall be without the leaf pile to get into...Tonka Trucks just keep on rolling.

Home Stretch From Trip to Woodstock Ontario

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Returning to the US border at Port Huron, Michigan.

 Sitting in line with the big trucks to cross the border back to USA.

 Crossing the Mackinac Bridge in the middle of the night. Raining and 40 mph winds while crossing the bridge that connects lower Michigan with the upper Michigan. 

Met this guy on the road at St. Ignas, Michigan. He was from Duluth, MN, was traveling south in his restored camper. Got to talking to him and it turns out that he was a sled dog musher for many years and we had some common acquaintances from the past.

The last of the Fall colors along Lake Michigan. As I traveled north along the lake, less and less leaves on the trees.