Two backcountry skiers narrowly avoided being swept into an avalanche near Ophir on Jan. 2, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
They occurred on Yellow Mountain in the area known as Base Camp between Ophir and Colorado Highway 145 above the Matterhorn Campground.
A skier triggered an avalanche in one gully, and there was a simultaneous release of a second avalanche in a gully on the opposite side of a ridge. Both slides ran more than 1,000 feet, and were the persistent slab type. A persistent slab occurs when a layer of snow separates and slides off a weak layer of snow beneath it.
The Northern San Juans had a “high” avalanche danger rating that day by CAIC because of recent heavy snowfall and wind.
High risk is Level 4 out of five on the CAIC avalanche hazard scale, which ranges from “low” to “extreme.“ It means “natural avalanches are likely, and human triggered avalanches are very likely. Travel is avalanche terrain not recommended.”
The avalanche began when the second skier was descending, according to the CAIC report. The first skier had pulled out far right after a discussion about the possibility of a strike.
When the avalanche was released, the second skier skied far right into trees. The slide remained in the main gully and did not spread laterally into the trees.
Both skiers reunited and skied the edge and lower gully to the bottom. They were wearing avalanche beacons. There were no reports of injuries.
There was a simultaneous, or “sympathetic” release of an avalanche in the gully on the opposite side of a ridge from the skiers. Both slides ran about 1,000 feet, well into the runout zone where the skier skin trail ascended.
Backcountry skiers use specialized climbing skins to ascend a slope, then adjust gear to ski down.
The skin trail below was examined to determine that no other skier had ascended after the party that broke trail and set off the slide. The area was checked with an avalanche beacon signal, and no signal was found.
On the ascent, the skiers reported there was no reactivity to snowpack, such as cracking or settling. The day was clear and sunny with little wind.
For information on avalanche conditions, go to the CAIC website at www.avalanche.state.co.us/
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
