Several natural and human-triggered avalanches have been reported across the state this week, including one near Vail Pass on Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche Center said.
The Vail Pass avalanche broke at the ground, they said. Although it was relatively small, it could have injured someone if they had been caught in it. The avalanche was triggered by skiers.
People should avoid steep slopes, especially on north and northeast faces where cohesive slabs of snow are formed by the wind. Avalanches can break in upper wind-effected layers or at weak layers near the ground, the Avalanche Center said. “With a relatively shallow early season’s snowpack, it is not difficult to affect these layers and create a failure. It is best to avoid traveling on steep wind-loaded slopes where these conditions exist.”
There were several natural and human-triggered avalanches across the state on Wednesday. Avalanches were reported at Berthoud Pass, Montezuma and near the Eisenhower Tunnel.
The Avalanche Center said most of the mountains will see a moderate risk of avalanches on Friday and Saturday at and above treeline.
