Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 54
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    65

    Breckenridge Avalanches

    Hi, there have been some reports of some huge avalanches triggered by ski patrol inside the Breckenridge ski area. Information has been spotty but I managed to find an image of a huge crown, posted on instagram. Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Screen Shot 2014-01-08 at 6.05.08 AM.png 
Views:	2062 
Size:	660.3 KB 
ID:	148124

    Any more info on this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    3,449
    scary!!!!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Golden, Colorado
    Posts
    5,868
    Jeez. Aspect definitely looks like Whales Tail.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    out yonder
    Posts
    318
    There was some noise on f/b last week about Whales Tail and Imperial Bowl going big, and one of the posts I read had multiple people buried. When there was no mention from CAIC or the news, I figured it was just noise.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    47
    was up there on Sunday and the guns were BOOMING...I don't know if the clouds made the sound travel more, but they sounded super close.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    12,609
    CO has seen some pretty serious windloading events along the ridge tops. I've seen plumes several hundred (or thousand) feet in the air off the peaks almost every day for weeks now. Windslabs are getting massive especially places like the Gore, Ten Mile, and Continental Divide. Saw some massive slides this week on Red, and another peak over on the Vail side of the Gore. Not to mention the tragic events yesterday in East Vail.

    Typical December for CO really, just different than the last two seasons because there's actually snow ready for transport. Just imagine having to mitigate these hazards as a patroller at one of the resorts like Breck or Loveland.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Not in the PRB
    Posts
    32,780
    Is it just me, or is that guy standing under some serious hangfire?
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Where the chairlifts do double corks
    Posts
    527
    its not you. and its not a guy.
    long live the jahrator

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Ten Mile Vistas
    Posts
    4,025
    I can confirm Imperial Bowl ripping out HUGE (10'-12' crown face) on a 2# charge, Saturday.
    Most of Peak 7 ripped HUGE and to ground on Christmas Day. That slide came within a couple hundred feet of the Independence Chair top terminal.
    A very large portion of the Peak 6 Ridge slid in two separate areas on Christmas Day as well.
    There was a slide on Whale's Tail, but I've heard conflicting reports on whether it was skier triggered or avalanche mitigation work.
    Another BIG crown was visible in the Humbug area of Horseshoe Bowl yesterday. Not sure if that slid Sunday or Monday.
    I also noticed that it looked like Billy's Bowl slid either Sunday or Monday as well.
    The north-easterly facing part of the Peak 6 "nose" slid around 12/18.
    Last edited by cmsummit; 01-08-2014 at 11:51 AM.
    Old's Cool.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    9,300ft
    Posts
    21,938
    Quote Originally Posted by Diesel View Post
    Whales Tail ... multiple people buried.
    I heard this rumor from a non-FB source... that they were partials... dunno!
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Eagle County
    Posts
    12,612
    Breck confirmed that Whales Tail went.

    Saw this today on FB
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	1522159_10202464928160073_876958510_n.jpg 
Views:	1368 
Size:	59.7 KB 
ID:	148140
    ROLL TIDE ROLL

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Golden, Colorado
    Posts
    5,868
    Quote Originally Posted by montanaskier View Post
    Breck confirmed that Whales Tail went.

    Saw this today on FB
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	1522159_10202464928160073_876958510_n.jpg 
Views:	1368 
Size:	59.7 KB 
ID:	148140
    Looks like near Lulus in Horseshoe?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    65
    Thanks for the info. I am puzzled why none of these avalanches are on the CAIC website and I searched for them in the news and nothing. Its odd given that I am sure a LOT of people saw at least the aftermath of the avalanches. From the images that I have seen they were just HUGE.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    9,300ft
    Posts
    21,938
    CAIC gets a huge amount of snow and weather obs from ski areas.
    Reports of inbounds slides at ski areas, especially accidents involving control work or post control releases, are not good PR. Even control work that does result in to-the ground-slides doesn't sound good for future skiing.
    You have no idea how many patrollers are caught each year, and even injured, during control work. I have no idea how many customers are caught in PCRs. It is all kept hush-hush as possible.

    We all know it happens though. In this little corner of the forum, we recognize that it is the cost the mountains. The local news channel wouldn't understand, they'd just shout "avalanche at ski area XYZ" which might scare off some weekender who doesn't understand the context either. At least... I think that is why it is the way it is.
    Last edited by Summit; 01-08-2014 at 10:29 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Ten Mile Vistas
    Posts
    4,025
    Quote Originally Posted by Lindahl View Post
    Looks like near Lulus in Horseshoe?
    That's the Humbug crown I mentioned above.
    Old's Cool.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    BROulder
    Posts
    2,884
    so why has so much at breck slid this year?

    I realize avalanches are normal for many of these slopes/faces, but it seems like an extraordinary amount have occured this year?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Ten Mile Vistas
    Posts
    4,025
    Quote Originally Posted by WTF is dat View Post
    so why has so much at breck slid this year?

    I realize avalanches are normal for many of these slopes/faces, but it seems like an extraordinary amount have occured this year?
    Conditions are/were prime right now. There have been several moderate to large storms accompanied by wind and it's all falling on top of snowpack plagued by deep instabilities. All it needs is a trigger. And it really hasn't been too surprising at the # of slides, but rather the size of them.

    In 18 years I can't recall this many HUGE inbounds slides triggered by patrol.
    Old's Cool.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    8,965
    Quote Originally Posted by Summit View Post
    You have no idea how many patrollers are caught each year, and even injured, during control work.
    do these need to be reported to OSHA?

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Golden, Colorado
    Posts
    5,868
    Quote Originally Posted by cmsummit View Post
    Conditions are/were prime right now. There have been several moderate to large storms accompanied by wind and it's all falling on top of snowpack plagued by deep instabilities. All it needs is a trigger. And it really hasn't been too surprising at the # of slides, but rather the size of them.

    In 18 years I can't recall this many HUGE inbounds slides triggered by patrol.
    Do you think they're more aggressively performing control work?

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    1

    BSP is understaffed

    Quote Originally Posted by Lindahl View Post
    Do you think they're more aggressively performing control work?
    No, in fact I think it's the opposite.

    My interpretation is that with all the focus on new Peak 6 terrain, other routes have fallen behind. Insufficient control routes (and delayed openings) have resulted in more accumulation than normal, causing snow to rip out all the way to the ground.

    Yes, wind event has caused large loads. This is nothing new. Having resources spread too thin is bigger part of the issue. Ask any patroller, "if not for Peak 6, when would peak 8 & 7 have been fully open this year"?

    The only exception to that would be humbug in horseshoe bowl. That spot has a history of rapid loading and producing big crowns during snow/wind events.

    BSP does an incredible job in a uniquely challenging environment. They just don't get the support they need from higher up.

    The bean counters in Broomfield just don't get it. More alpine terrain requires significantly more staff. Particularly experienced staff with local knowledge. If there has been any effort to increase training of new avie techs over last few years in advance of opening P6, it is not showing up in on mtn terrain management.

    I went to many meetings and urged the USFS to require VR to increase staffing significantly to handle expanded terrain. Suits and Bureacrats don't listen to locals.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Golden, Colorado
    Posts
    5,868
    Thanks for your insight. What you say makes a lot of sense, and now that you mention it, I have heard a few members of BSP complaining about the lack of sufficient staff with the new terrain on Peak 6. Haven't talked to them in a while though, and sad to hear that it's still a major problem. Hope that the recent activity has grabbed the bean counters' attention and they start listening to their staff again.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    65
    Quote Originally Posted by Justanotherlocal View Post
    No, in fact I think it's the opposite.

    My interpretation is that with all the focus on new Peak 6 terrain, other routes have fallen behind. Insufficient control routes (and delayed openings) have resulted in more accumulation than normal, causing snow to rip out all the way to the ground.

    Yes, wind event has caused large loads. This is nothing new. Having resources spread too thin is bigger part of the issue. Ask any patroller, "if not for Peak 6, when would peak 8 & 7 have been fully open this year"?

    The only exception to that would be humbug in horseshoe bowl. That spot has a history of rapid loading and producing big crowns during snow/wind events.

    BSP does an incredible job in a uniquely challenging environment. They just don't get the support they need from higher up.

    The bean counters in Broomfield just don't get it. More alpine terrain requires significantly more staff. Particularly experienced staff with local knowledge. If there has been any effort to increase training of new avie techs over last few years in advance of opening P6, it is not showing up in on mtn terrain management.

    I went to many meetings and urged the USFS to require VR to increase staffing significantly to handle expanded terrain. Suits and Bureacrats don't listen to locals.
    Thx for the info. It does not surprise me what you said. Sad to hear though. Ive talked to BSP a few times and like most they are a hard working great group of people. The Alpine terrain in Breck must be a total nightmare to keep safe. A lot of it is E and NE facing which historically has been one of the most dangerous aspects in the mountains in regards to avalanches.

    I also can't remember such HUGE crowns caused by control work in bounds on Co ski areas. A-basin SP have triggered some big ones in the past but the ones in Breck this year were just massive.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    65
    Brian Lazar from CAIC explains it well:

    "So, across the deeper parts of the zone and in more wind-loaded areas, we are transitioning from a Persistent Slab problem to a Deep Persistent Slab problem. This is a scary transition, where pretty big avalanche are still possible to trigger in more than just isolated locations. I'm really worried about the next couple weeks, as small loading events, and lack of obvious signs of instability can lure people into terrain capable of producing big avalanche like the fatal slide from yesterday. These weak layers demand respect and caution. Do not poke the lion."

    This applies basically to most of Brecks Alpine terrain

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Where the sheets have no stains
    Posts
    22,065
    Quote Originally Posted by bodywhomper View Post
    do these need to be reported to OSHA?
    Only fatalities. Seriously.

    Injuries are handled by the work comp carrier.

    I have known of perhaps two dozen patrollers injured taking rides over 30 years. The numbers aren't as high for injuries as you would expect but they do happen. In 30 years I was caught in 3-5 large slides and perhaps another 10-12 small ones. Gotten banged up but never injured. Knock knock.

    What the BSP is experiencing isn't unique, it is getting harder to find good people willing to hang their asses out for 13.00 an hour.

    Management finds it difficult to justify paying those willing people more or paying for additional training when after 3-5 years they move on and take their experience with them to another career, one you can make a living at.
    I have been in this State for 30 years and I am willing to admit that I am part of the problem.

    "Happiest years of my life were earning < $8.00 and hour, collecting unemployment every spring and fall, no car, no debt and no responsibilities. 1984-1990 Park City UT"

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    your vacation
    Posts
    4,718
    Quote Originally Posted by Bunion View Post
    Only fatalities. Seriously.

    What the BSP is experiencing isn't unique, it is getting harder to find good people willing to hang their asses out for 13.00 an hour.

    Management finds it difficult to justify paying those willing people more or paying for additional training when after 3-5 years they move on and take their experience with them to another career, one you can make a living at.
    Everyone can say what they want, think, assume, or heard. This quote is the bottom line.

    People used to move to a ski town, become a patroler and have a career for 10-20 years or a lifetime. In summit county there are probably a dozen or so lifetime SP left. Today they make a 2 year commitment mandatory for new hires. If they didn't it'd be a one and done type job and most split after their two years. Like any ski town people cycle through spending a year to three then leave "after the have done it and notched their belt." What used to be a solid job is now filled with the normal ski town turnover which doesn't help.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •