Front Range Backcountry Avalanche Forecast Showing Archive Sat, Dec 26, 2020 at 6:42 AM Issued by: Jason Konigsberg Saturday, Sunday, all elevations Moderate (2) Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Summary You can trigger large and deadly avalanches on recently wind-loaded slopes. Avoid slopes over 30 degrees near ridgetop, especially those that face an easterly direction. These easterly ridgetop locations are where you are most likely to find thick wind-drifted slabs over deeply buried weak layers. A fresh large avalanche was reported from Berthoud Pass yesterday. Recent large avalanches were also triggered from below and from adjacent slopes. Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, avoid traveling on or underneath steep, wind-loaded slopes. Avalanche Problem Persistent Slab Aspect/Elevation: N -> SE Above Treeline Near Treeline Likelihood: Possible Size: Large What You Need to Know About These Avalanches Persistent Slab avalanches can be triggered days to weeks after the last storm. They often propagate across and beyond terrain features that would otherwise confine Wind and Storm Slab avalanches. In some cases they can be triggered remotely, from low-angle terrain or adjacent slopes. Give yourself a wide safety buffer to address the uncertainty. Forecast Discussion Showing Archive Sat, Dec 26, 2020 at 8:01 AM Issued by: Kreston Rohrig Statewide Weather Forecast Dropping the avalanche danger on a busy holiday weekend is always a bit terrifying for forecasters. Our job is to be objective and as accurate as possible, but conditions are a little tricky right now. We know that there is plenty of weak snow buried under recently formed slabs and that avalanches are happening. The challenge is trying to put all this information into the right box. Natural avalanches have popped up here and there, but we haven't seen a sustained cycle. Ski Patrols are starting to trigger larger avalanches, but they are using explosives, and sometimes rather large ones. Backcountry travelers are also triggering avalanches, but thankfully, without incident. The one thing in common with all this evidence is that steep wind-loaded slopes are the main culprit. We don't know how to say it more clearly; stay off steep wind-loaded slopes, and you will avoid almost all of the avalanche danger. With raging winds last week, snow distribution has changed, and unfortunately, the slopes holding the most snow are also the most dangerous. The weak snow and stiff slab set up near and above treeline aren't going away until we get heaps more snow, so don't let your guard down. The only thing changing is that it's getting a little harder to trigger an avalanche on these slopes as the slabs settle and stiffen. In situations like this, managing your terrain choices is the only solution. Trying to outsmart this snowpack is a risky proposition. Sticking to lower angle slopes is always the best tool to ensure safety. Also, consider how slabs are connected across a slope. We're seeing a lot of snow cover variance, from only isolated features holding snow to entire faces. It is entirely possible to trigger an avalanche from a distance away or the bottom of a slope. If the recent wind-drifted slabs are connected across a slope or around terrain features, you could trigger a much larger, more dangerous avalanche.