Skier Triggers Steep Avalanche Near Vail But Avoids Injury By Holding Onto Tree
EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) -- A skier who triggered an avalanche near Vail on Saturday escaped injury by grabbing onto a tree as the slide swept into a gulch and other "high-consequence terrain," the Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported Monday.
The slide occurred northeast of Vail about one mile into the Pitkin Creek drainage from a trailhead near Interstate 70.
The unidentified skier (also identified in a separate CAIC report as a 'rider') launched from near the top of a ridge at 12,000 feet elevation. The slide broke on the steep slope between 11,600 and 11,800 feet elevation, per the CAIC's field report.
"They (sic) made a few turns before the avalanche broke above them and were able to reach a tree island," the report stated. "The skier held onto a tree as the avalanche washed downslope through high-consequence terrain."
The incident was witnessed by other people on the opposite side of the drainage. They said the avalanche slid all the way to the valley floor.
Saturday's slide is relatively unique in that it happened on a northwest-facing slope. The CAIC stresses greater concern for north- and east-facing aspects which become "wind-loaded." Wind-loaded conditions become dangerous when snow repeatedly collects on hillsides when released from westerly winds that crest ridges and summits. Southern and western slopes are generally more windswept and clear of snow accumulation.
The CAIC rated the avalanche danger in the area Saturday as moderate.
#CAICSummit MOD(2of5) Watch out for small pockets of wind-drifted snow near the treeline and above. These slabs sit on a very weak snow surface and you can easily trigger a small avalanche. Look for stiffer snow and cracking to help identify these drifts. https://t.co/9vJme1X5zb
— CAIC:Statewide Info (@COAvalancheInfo) January 29, 2022