Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 sad news An avalanche in the US state of Colorado has killed five back-country snowboarders with a sixth surviving, according to officials.The avalanche occurred between 13:00 (19:00 GMT) and 14:00 in Loveland Pass, near a ski area, and blocked a highway. The bodies of the victims, who all had avalanche beacons, were recovered by search teams. A local sheriff said the authorities believed the snowboarders had caused the avalanche themselves. The pass, at an elevation of 11,990ft (3,655m), is popular among back-country skiers and snowboarders, many of whom have been taking advantage of late season snowfall in the Rocky Mountains this weekend. 'Pretty sure' Sheriff Don Krueger of Clear Creek County said the avalanche had occurred near the Loveland Ski Area, but outside its boundaries, the Denver Post reports. He said he believed everyone had been accounted for but could not be sure. The sheriff added that the authorities were "pretty sure" the snowboarders had triggered the avalanche, which he said was about 600yds (600m) wide and 8ft deep. "The basic is that there was a group of about six back-country snowboards that came out today about two o'clock," he said, adding that they had apparently triggered the snow slide. "At least one of them was able to bail off to the side, he was partially buried but he was able to get himself out and call for help." An eyewitness saw a fire engine and ambulances, one towing snowmobiles, heading towards the pass, and two search dogs in the area of the slide. The Colorado Department of Transportation said the avalanche had closed Highway 6 at Loveland Pass and could not estimate when the pass would reopen. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 Shit thats alot of people I wonder where the survivor was in the pack. Is that the same place that MB posted about late last year Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 21, 2013 Author Share Posted April 21, 2013 Yeah think it was. Says in the story that he was only partially buried and managed to dig himself out and raise the alarm Link to post Share on other sites
NECK 14 Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Damn! I used to ride Loveland Pass often when I lived in Summit County during the 02/03 and 04/05 seasons...... Including on full moon nights! Never this late in the season though. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Presumably the "eight feet deep" is the debris, not the crown wall. Link to post Share on other sites
Dunga 1 Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 If it was an 8ft deep crown wall the late in the season it would have to be a full depth av. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 crown wall was massive. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Whats a crown wall? Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 The crown wall is the wall that is left at the top of the slide. In this case it was almost head high. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Sounds like they didn't get much snow till recently. I guess clear weather set a nice bed deep down for the late snow to slide on. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Yes I know now that is the crack that it slides from why is it called a crown wall? Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 That part of an avalanche is called the crown so the wall is the crown wall or crown face Link to post Share on other sites
Dunga 1 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Is that actual photos of the crown wall? The slope looks fairly gentle... Big slide though. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Cheers Mate I should do a course really Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Is that actual photos of the crown wall? The slope looks fairly gentle... Big slide though. A couple of pics from the thread on Teton. Gives it a bit of scale. . It kinda reminds me of the back face from Kagura to Tashiro at the top lift. I mean its a bit longer but yeah, definite reminder if you ride it. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 Was thinking that too ippy, the Kagura bit. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 The official report is up. Read it and also scroll through all the pics at the bottom. https://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc_report.php?accfm=inv&acc_id=505&view=public Link to post Share on other sites
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