weak layers in CO, be careful

**quienes?** · 12-03-2007, 10:43 AM

This is north aspect, 30-inch crown, 75-100 yards across. Below timberline. 7th Bowl of the Anthracites (Irwin, CO). She went long, say 1,200 feet. We were expecting some propagation. Lots of whoompfing on the deep-in-the-timber ascent. Crazy cracking.
Pit revealed a seriously weak layer beneath the three-plus feet of fresh. At least down there CB way, the pre-storm snowpack is not serving well as a base.
I triggered this with a ski cut above the bowl in big trees. I'll never forget watching those cracks take off beneath my ski tips. Freaky.
Be careful out there. I'm betting this storm will deliver a nice base in places where there was no existing snowpack. But if there was a few inches, it's likely to rip. Be ready for it.
-j

**Lurch** · 12-03-2007, 10:48 AM

Good job not getting caught.

**Below Zero** · 12-03-2007, 10:49 AM

I'd report this in the Slide Zone forum.

**txsviking** · 12-03-2007, 10:51 AM

Pic is a great reminder of how nasty it can get

**Lone Star** · 12-03-2007, 10:56 AM

way to stay safe. scary!

**pechelman** · 12-03-2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Below Zero

I'd report this in the Slide Zone forum.

and in the 2007-2008 colorado snowpack thread

**Powder to the People** · 12-03-2007, 11:36 AM

We skied Butler Gultch Sunday and heard quite a bit of whumpfing as well. Saw a small slab about 15 ft. wide and ran about 25 ft.. Definately sketchy out there. Good to hear you avoided it.

**SILENCER** · 12-03-2007, 11:40 AM

We skied Butler on Saturday, and watched all those slides real time...freaky. Lots of whumpfing, and we made lots of cracks. Dug a pit and saw a crapola layer about 1.5 feet down. Also made a block and collapsed it...same sheeyat.

We didn't venture above treeline, but skied close to the trees. Still awesome powder but you had to have your ears open.

Careful!!!!

**IridePow** · 12-03-2007, 11:45 AM

See http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103730

For some pics of Berthoud slide and mini slide at Butler.

**goldenboy** · 12-03-2007, 04:38 PM

Quienes, I didn't see this posted in the observations section of the CB Avalanche center, so if you haven't already done so, please go to http://www.cbavalanchecenter.org/
and let them know.

Glad you didn't get caught in it.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 12-03-2007, 04:40 PM

Totally agree. Danno, MakersTeleMark, Rontele- all those guys are super-weak.

Oh, layers.

Stay safe, everybody.

**MakersTeleMark** · 12-03-2007, 04:57 PM

I hear wool is the new fleece.

**TeleHoar** · 12-03-2007, 05:11 PM

The snowpack layers in Texas are much more stable:

It's the absorbent pad that locks it all together. Very safe.

**TeleSlayer** · 12-03-2007, 07:27 PM

Yeah, shit was sliding and propagating all over East vail this weekend 3 feet of fresh on shitty north face pre-season layers. More snow this week. I say fuck yeah to the pineapple express!