Avalanche Hunting?

[Hannah.Taylor]

So, anyone ever gone Avalanche Hunting?

Living in Colorado, I'm very interested in this prospect. Would love to get some photos and videos of course, however, as with tornadoes, from a safe distance.

I found an interesting app on the Android Market that is supposed to alert you to prime avalanche conditions.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sebnarware.avalanche


If there's anyone here in Colorado that would be interested in a Saturday or Sunday escapade, please let me know, it would be nice to split gas and head up in the mountains and see what we can find.

 

[MClarkson]

"I found an interesting app on the Android Market that is supposed to alert you to prime avalanche conditions."

General forecasts are a good place to start, however these do have the resolution to take into account the small scale differences that make a huge difference in avalanches. I have gone from ultra-safe old compact snow to ultra-deadly wind loaded new snow in the space of about 2 steps. The only change was a slight depression that offered a bit more protection from wind, allowing feet of wind slab to accumulate. A snowboarder triggered it, but was able to get out to side.

https://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_state_avo.php

I would suggest reading over these avalanche professionals forecast discussions. You will learn a lot. Learn what a cohesive wind slab is, slope angles, favorable aspects, triggers, runout zones, weak layers, all that. Then get out in the field and be careful. Where are the debris paths from old avalanches? Did they form when are where they were supposed to? Why or why not? Even a drive along a major road, like I70... avalanche patrolled and controlled six ways from Sunday... is a good time to look at the distant ridge tops and see if/where the avalanches have been playing.

Keep in mind there is a lot of terrain in Colorado that is avalanche controlled (ski areas, slopes above significant roads). They'll start little avalanches every morning so that the snow usually does not accumulate and form a large slide. This could be a good opportunity to learn, but to see large avalanches you would usually need to look elsewhere.

 

[MClarkson]

http://www.amazon.com/Staying-Alive-Avalanche-Terrain-Tremper/dp/1594850844

Oh ya, that is a great book.

 

[Bob Schafer]

Hannah, I would suggest contacting the DoT to ask them if they provide info to the public as to where and when the avalanche chutes are getting blasted. They used to call them Avalaunchers (25 years ago), and maybe they still do. There is a "contact" link on this page:

http://www.coloradodot.info/

I used to ski A-Basin a lot, and that is one area where you can see them in action frequently, plus on Loveland Pass, etc. Yeah, I suppose the "natural" avalanches tend to be bigger, but good luck catching one of those. Don't try searching "Colorado Avalauncher Schedule", LOL. All you'll get is links for the NHL team schedule and tix.

 

[Hannah.Taylor]

Thank you for the information guys!