Colorado in for a tough Avy season. First fatality

[sarahofthewaves]

https://avalanche.state.co.us/caic/acc/acc_report.php?accfm=rep&acc_id=726

[Dostie]

From the Fort Collins local paper...
https://www.coloradoan.com/story/new...19/4385566002/

The most disturbing thing about this avy - besides the obvious fatality - it was on terrain generally acknowledged to be the "safe" zone on S. Diamond Peak. "Safe" 'cuz it is in a tree'd area which usually helps anchor the snow. Obviously that isn't always true, and the specific slide path is a mini-gully without trees.

[tele.skier]

Very sad to hear. It sounds like her group were prepared, reacted well to the incident, and dug her out but not in time to save her life. Condolences to her friends and family. I lost one of my best friends to a late season avalanche on a moderately rated day a few years ago. There are no safe zones on a 35 degree pitch. Safe implies there's no possible danger, as in there is 0% chance of an incident. I have a saying about avalanche danger that I wish was more popular. "Even when the risk is low, it's never ZERO!"

The story in Dostie's link says it was a moderately rated day, but obviously there's variation due to aspect and altitude. From the discription of the crown being 1.5 - 3 feet deep and 285 feet wide. Sounds like a monster avalanche on a moderate rated day.

[dschane]

These events and write-ups on them are tough. Condolences to friends and family.