At 5:31 p.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service reported an avalanche advisory in effect until Sunday at 5:45 p.m. for Colorado.
“WHATit is very easy for people to trigger large and deadly avalanches through the weekend. WHEREthe Elkheads, Park Range, Flat Tops, Front Range, Gore Range, 10-Mile Range, Grand Mesa, Sawatch, West Elk, Elk Mountains, San Juan Mountains. WHENDangerous avalanche conditions exist through Sunday. IMPACTSLarge and dangerous avalanches will be easy to trigger,” describes the NWS. “Pritchett.”
The full list of affected locations includes:
• Elkhead and Park Mountains
• Grand and Battlement Mesas
• Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
• West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
• Northwestern San Juan Mountains
• Southwest San Juan Mountains
• West Jackson and West Grand counties above 9,000 feet
• South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/Northwest Boulder counties above 9,000 feet
• South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park counties above 9,000 feet
• Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County above 11,000 ft
• Eastern Sawatch Mountains above 11,000 ft
• Western Chaffee County between 9,000 and 11,000 ft
• Eastern San Juan Mountains above 10,000 ft
How to stay safe according to the NWS
Know the three factors required for an avalanche:
• Slope: Avalanche generally occur on slopes steeper than 30 degrees
• Snowpack: Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and “whumpfing” are signs of unstable snow
• Trigger: Sometimes it doesn’t take much to tip the balance; people, new snow, and wind are common triggers
Determine if you are on or below slopes that can avalanche:
• Find out if the snow is stable
• Get the advisory: Refer to your local avalanche center for current snowpack conditions
• Get the gear and learn how to use it
Have these three avalanche safety essentials in your pack:
• Transceiver: So you can be found if covered by the snow
• Shovel: So you can dig out your partner
• Probe: So you can locate someone who has been covered by the snow
Avalanche survival rates plummet after about 15 minutes for victims who do not die from trauma. Saving your partner is up to you! Practicing realistic scenarios beforehand is essential.
Source: The National Weather Service