Christmas Eve: Conditions Update - SNOW!

John finding Santa has come early to the Indian Peaks

First and foremost, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Today I was lucky enough to get out for an early morning ski tour with John Bicknell. A great way to start the holiday season. The Front Range has been getting hit with cold temps and some new snow over the last 48 hrs. Yesterdays 3-4" was followed up with another 6-8" last night. John and I met early and ran up to the Indian Peaks for a quick morning lap.

With the recent instability and lack of time we opted for a low angle run that offered a nice warm-up skin, fun turns, and minimal risk. Tomorrow it looks like this system will roll out and will be followed by high pressure moving in from the northwest. Bummer this system isn't sticking around longer and providing needed coverage but we're only getting started and there is plenty more to come.

If you're thinking about taking a avy course this season consider one of our Avy Awareness or AIARE Level 1 programs. We run one every weekend throughout the winter season. Check out our course listings on our website: www.totoalclimbing.com

Our guides also run ski tours and ski mountaineering training in the Indian Peaks and Rocky Mountain National Park throughout the winter.

The following report is from the CAIC website. I highly recommend anyone into backcountry recreation checking their site each time before heading out.

"The Front Range received 2-6" of snow in the last 24 hours. Winds have been all over the place so I am going to increase the danger to CONSIDERABLE at and above treeline on the western side of the rose. Most of the west slope will be scoured by afternoon, but places where snow remains will be touchy. Our snowpack is weak, thin, and will not strengthen in the near future. There have been 19 reports of human triggered avalanches in the past week. The slides have occurred on north through northeast to southeast aspects, at elevations above 11,000 feet, from Cameron Pass to Loveland Pass. Some highlights: Sunday, snowmobilers triggered a very large avalanche just north of Jones Pass. It was on a north to northeast aspect above treeline and 3 to 4 feet deep. Saturday search and rescue was called out to search a series of avalanches just west of the road on Berthoud Pass. Fortunately, that was a false alarm. Signs of instability are obvious and rampant. Observers report sizable whumpfs and shooting cracks in most areas holding snow. The weak layers tend to be well developed basal facets, and faceted layers above and/or below stiff crusts. Convex rolls (less steep to steeper transition) continue to be the most likely trigger point. With the new snow being redistributed by wind, it will become easier to trigger avalanches. Pay attention to who is above, and below you...we have had reports of parties dropping into questionable terrain above other parties. The Front Range received 2-6" of snow in the last 24 hours. Winds have been all over the place so I am going to increase the danger to CONSIDERABLE at and above treeline on the western side of the rose. Most of the west slope will be scoured by afternoon, but places where snow remains will be touchy. Our snowpack is weak, thin, and will not strengthen in the near future. There have been 19 reports of human triggered avalanches in the past week. The slides have occurred on north through northeast to southeast aspects, at elevations above 11,000 feet, from Cameron Pass to Loveland Pass. Some highlights: Sunday, snowmobilers triggered a very large avalanche just north of Jones Pass. It was on a north to northeast aspect above treeline and 3 to 4 feet deep. Saturday search and rescue was called out to search a series of avalanches just west of the road on Berthoud Pass. Fortunately, that was a false alarm. Signs of instability are obvious and rampant. Observers report sizable whumpfs and shooting cracks in most areas holding snow. The weak layers tend to be well developed basal facets, and faceted layers above and/or below stiff crusts. Convex rolls (less steep to steeper transition) continue to be the most likely trigger point. With the new snow being redistributed by wind, it will become easier to trigger avalanches. Pay attention to who is above, and below you...we have had reports of parties dropping into questionable terrain above other parties. The Front Range received 2-6" of snow in the last 24 hours. Winds have been all over the place so I am going to increase the danger to CONSIDERABLE at and above treeline on the western side of the rose. Most of the west slope will be scoured by afternoon, but places where snow remains will be touchy. Our snowpack is weak, thin, and will not strengthen in the near future. There have been 19 reports of human triggered avalanches in the past week. The slides have occurred on north through northeast to southeast aspects, at elevations above 11,000 feet, from Cameron Pass to Loveland Pass. Some highlights: Sunday, snowmobilers triggered a very large avalanche just north of Jones Pass. It was on a north to northeast aspect above treeline and 3 to 4 feet deep. Saturday search and rescue was called out to search a series of avalanches just west of the road on Berthoud Pass. Fortunately, that was a false alarm. Signs of instability are obvious and rampant. Observers report sizable whumpfs and shooting cracks in most areas holding snow. The weak layers tend to be well developed basal facets, and faceted layers above and/or below stiff crusts. Convex rolls (less steep to steeper transition) continue to be the most likely trigger point. With the new snow being redistributed by wind, it will become easier to trigger avalanches. Pay attention to who is above, and below you...we have had reports of parties dropping into questionable terrain above other parties. " type="hidden">

Weather Discussion:

The arrival of the northern cold air mass last night resulted in good snowfall along the western foothills of the Front Range, in the Steamboat Zone and along the North Slope of the San Juan. The cold air and northerly flow will remain in place through Friday night, leaving us with periods of clearing followed by scattered mountain snow showers through Christmas day. Mountain winds will pick up Friday afternoon as a low pressure system setting up over Nebraska moves eastward." Self portrait... did I mention it was COLD! Simon Fryer Colorado Mountain School sfryer@totalclimbing.com www.totalclimbing.com