Avi closes Silverton?

**idavidcrockett** · 01-06-2008, 05:02 PM

Via: http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=84009

SILVERTON – A large avalanche buried businesses in Silverton and forced Silverton Mountain to close Sunday.

Crews with San Juan County used bulldozers to try to clear Highway 110, the road to the ski area, but there is a concern that there could be additional avalanches.

Click here to view a slideshow of the snow.

(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)

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There is not much info in the article, does anyone know more?

**Benny Profane** · 01-06-2008, 05:08 PM

holy shit! WTF?

**cdlv** · 01-06-2008, 05:10 PM

holy sheet those pictures are crazy

**powder_prophet** · 01-06-2008, 05:11 PM

Thursday will be fantastic. Who's gonna be there?

**Benny Profane** · 01-06-2008, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by powder_prophet

Thursday will be fantastic. Who's gonna be there?

Dude, look at that picture! The town is buried!

**powder_prophet** · 01-06-2008, 05:38 PM

The mountain website reported 30" in town, with who knows how much on the mountain, as no one could make it up. That first weekend in December when the mountain got 48" overnight, the town had 20" tops. Main street certainly didn't look like that!!!!!!!

Looks like the town will continue to get burried throughout tonight and tomorrow. From the NWS:

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST MONDAY.

WIDESPREAD HEAVY SNOWFALL...WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...WILL REDEVELOP TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. AN ADDITIONAL 8 TO 15 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED BY MONDAY AFTERNOON...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 2 FEET POSSIBLE. IN THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS FROM 10 TO 20 INCHES IS EXPECTED WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS UP TO 30 INCHES.

Give them a few days to plow, and it'll prime for Thursday.

**gr8fldoug** · 01-06-2008, 05:40 PM

**MadMatt** · 01-06-2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by powder_prophet

Give them a few days to plow, and it'll prime for Thursday.

You're going to have the best day of your life.

**summit** · 01-06-2008, 05:57 PM

mother of god! it looks like the blizzard that hit just before the turn of the centruy

**CaddyDaddy77** · 01-06-2008, 07:29 PM

Where was the bit about burying businesses? It would be a big path to bury businesses there, and in case there would be a few neighborhoods hit first. Calling bs on that one, good pics though. There's a reason some of the older houses have second story doors and no decks.
CDOT's calling Lizard head, Molas, Red Mtn., & Wolf Creek pass all closed. SW is getting pummeled. From the sounds it's really heavy, power has been in and out in Durango.

**gamma** · 01-06-2008, 07:33 PM

holy sheeeeeeet!!! did anyone see the size of that cornice on the building? unreal!

**golden powder** · 01-06-2008, 07:41 PM

**Pause** · 01-06-2008, 10:01 PM

Silverton will be sick on Thur/Fri (understatement of the week)... IF it stops snowing long enough. Forecast is for a chance of snow every day this week.
I'll be there if it's open

**Xover** · 01-07-2008, 12:02 AM

Re, u still alive???

**AfroMullet** · 01-07-2008, 12:03 AM

BOBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYY IIIII FFFFFOOUUUUUNNNNNDDD my boots!

**telemyk** · 01-07-2008, 12:17 AM

We're currently snowed in at Silverton. Down here for The Beating film festival. Yesterday (Saturday) was pretty epic, and today was lookin' to be the tits. Got word over breakfast at the Brown Bear the resort was closed, but we could ski at Kendall Mtn here right in town for free.

Called Jenny and sure enough, mountains closed. But then we got the full story. Huge natural avy, road buried under 15 feet of snow. They can only guess at the snow total at the ski area. 30-inch estimate on their web site is conservative!

With all the roads out (and in) closed, there was a full on assault at Kendall, "cheapest ski area in the West." All 200 vertical feet. And you thought your local hill gets tracked out in two hours. Try 20 minutes!

Town was an absolute buzz of snow removal equipment all day long. Reminded me of living in Mammoth. These guys know how to get it done. Unlike Park Silly.

Trying to figure out what to do tomorrow. Were supposed to go cat skiing at Purgatory. But word in town is the roads will be closed until at least Monday afternoon. Another foot tonight, and another tomorrow. Thursday at Silverton Mountain is looking like a possibility

Cornice drop just to get in the driver-side door

Says open, but somehow I doubt it

View of Silverton from Kendall Mtn (note fully loaded double chair)

**gretch6364** · 01-07-2008, 12:28 AM

I have a reservation for guided skiing there over the weekend. Hopefully it all gets open in time...I am sure it will. I hope the snow stabilizes enough for good skiing. Just out of curiosity......their site mentions no refunds if you don't get there....I wonder if they refunded peoples money today because the mountain was closed?

**Tresckow** · 01-07-2008, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Xover

Re, u still alive???

They are back safe and sound, good driving Re. Kristen pulled in at 7am this morning, and still rallied to ski pow all morning.

Looks like they would have been snowed in if they hadn't taken off Sat night.

I want to see pics Re, sounds like you all had a fun trip

**telemyk** · 01-07-2008, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Xover

Re, u still alive???

Ran into Re down here, knew she was heading out Saturday night, sounds like she just made it:

I left yesterday after Red Mountain Pass was closed so we had to head south to Durango. I hear those passes closed shortly after we left, too. It took us 12 hours to drive home! The only break in the snow was between Moab and I-70, and then Provo to SLC.

**Buster Highmen** · 01-07-2008, 09:48 AM

Danger:

**coloskier** · 01-07-2008, 04:15 PM

Just out of curiosity......their site mentions no refunds if you don't get there....I wonder if they refunded peoples money today because the mountain was closed?

No refunds unless both passes or the mountain is closed. That is what an employee told me.

I'm headed there on Sat. for unguided.

**Ireallyliketoski2** · 01-07-2008, 04:22 PM

So steep and so deep.

**gunniride** · 01-07-2008, 04:48 PM

From the 9 News Website:

"Crews with San Juan County used bulldozers to try to clear Highway 110, the road to the ski area, but there is a concern that there could be additional avalanches.

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office says no one was hurt in an avalanche on Pearl Pass, south of Aspen. It happened around 3 p.m."

Does 9 News need a geography lesson? Pearl Pass and Silverton aren't anywhere remotely close to each other. For that matter, in the winter Pearl Pass isn't even close to reasonable BC access. ??????