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Three climbers were caught but survived an avalanche on Torreys Peak on Nov. 8th, 2008.
Summit County: Three climbers caught in slide on Torreys Peak.
Avalanche season is already under way.
By Bob Berwyn
Summit Daily News
Summit County, Colorado
SUMMIT COUNTY — As wintry weather advances into Colorado, avalanche forecasters said Wednesday that several slides already have been reported from the Front Range and the San Juan mountains.
Last Saturday, three climbers roped together triggered a wind slab high on the slopes of 14,267-foot Torreys Peak, on the Continental Divide between Summit and Clear Creek counties.
The climbers were carried more than 1,000 feet down the slope and suffered moderate injuries, according Colorado Avalanche Information Center director Ethan Greene.
Any of the snow covered slopes in this photo of Torreys could have avalanche potential as they are a steep enough angle (30+) to be avalanche terrain. Photo and accompanying text by Eli.
A few other avalanches have been reported from the mountains around Telluride, where several feet of snow already have fallen, Greene said.
Wind-loaded pockets and slabs can form at high elevation early in the season. Climbers and skiers already need to be on the lookout for potential slabs by watching for cracks and listening for collapsing snow, Greene said.
Even shallow early-season slides can have nasty consequences, carrying skiers and climbers over exposed rocks, he added.
Here again, another photo of Torreys showing multiple couloirs that could be lee or cross-loaded terrain (thus the bounty of snow) and with sufficient angle, this is prime avalanche terrain. The ridges and dry ground in these photos are the only "safer" spots when it comes to avalanche potential. Photo and accompanying text by Eli.
The avalanche center is planning to issue electronic and telephone forecasts within the next few weeks after resolving a few outstanding technical issues.
Greene said the storm track the next few days should bring some decent snows to the mountains north of Interstate 70, including the Flat Tops and the mountains around Steamboat Springs. Summit County could see a few inches, along with plenty of wind, Greene said.
The best way to get timely weather forecasts for specific mountain zones, as well as avalanche condition updates, is to join the grassroots Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at http://avalanche.state.co.us/FriendsofCAIC/About/.
To help fundraising, the group is seeking nonprofit status, according to Lance Lary, a formal Aspen Highlands ski patroller heading up the effort.
The move would make it easier to hold fundraising events and for businesses to donate to the avalanche center, Lary explained.
At this point, it would help to have some people involved on the board of the nonprofit with business and fundraising experience, he said. Contact the avalanche center at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for more information.
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or at @summitdaily.com.
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