The dismal start to our winter has left a pretty rotten, weak snowpack on the ground, particularly on the Front Range (Berthoud Pass in particular!). It’s finally snowing, but that doesn’t mean our problems are going anywhere. In fact, they’ll probably get way worse before they get better. The weather gurus are predicting more than a foot in many locations, and a couple feet over the course of this week into the weekend. There have already been several near misses–just check out the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s “Accidents” page to read about the 15-person incident at A-Basin (whoops!); a very, very close call on Peak 1 in the Ten Mile Range; or any of the other avalanches and partial burials.
There’s still plenty of fun, safe terrain to enjoy as the avalanche danger trends upward. Get your A-team together, plan ahead, and choose terrain appropriate to the conditions. As the old saying goes, the mountains will always be there; the trick is making sure you are, too.
See you up on Berthoud this weekend!
