Author: psoeth

According to the Rocky Mountain News, only one person was admitted to the hospital in the avalanche that occurred on Berthoud Pass today.  The avalanche happened on what is known as the Stanley run.
There are many avalanche paths that cross Highway 40, but it is unusual for avalanches to come down uncontrolled in this area.  The Colorado Department of Transportation regularly inspects and does control work throughout the whole highway.

But it appears that the wind that came up this morning loaded the starting zone before anyone realized what was going on and could stop traffic and do control work in the area.

I am glad that no one was killed or seriously injured.

Read the complete Rocky Mountain News Story, (No one else trapped; eight taken to hospital)

It is now being reported that the avalanche occurred in the biggest avalanche area on Berthoud Pass, the Stanley Run.
It is located on the east side of Berthoud Pass, just south the top of the pass.

Apparently CDOT has been doing control work in the area through the storms and was last done on Wednesday. This morning the conditions were fine, but there was a lot of wind that has come up and depositing snow in those avalanche runs and this may be the cause.

This is all from the spokesman from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Various news stations are just reporting an avalanche over Berthoud Pass, about 35 miles west of Denver. There are reports of cars being trapped and buried and maybe even some cars being pushed over the side of the road.
This is a major highway for people to access Winter Park Ski Area. With all the new snow we have had and it being a Saturday, there were a lot of people heading to the mountains and skiing.

Highway 40 is a two to three lane road with many switchbacks and numerous avalanche runs coming down and crossing the highway. It is a pretty step valley. Usually, the Colorado Department of Transportation does control work in this area, so it is amazing this has happened here.

The drainage where this avalanche took place has been influenced by the last three storms that have hit the Colorado area. These avalanche runs also receive a lot of wind deposited snow from the west. It is a dangerous area when there is a big deposit of snow and wind with those storms.

I hope the rescuers are able to get to everyone in time.

Read Denver Post Story (Avalanche Traps Cars, Closes US 40)

Read Rocky Mountain News Story (Avalanche buries cars near Berthoud Pass)

Another snowstorm has hit Denver.  This is the third one in three weeks where we have received over 8 inches of snow.
Check out this story in the Denver Post, Another snowstorm? I’ll give you an earful.

This snow was not as bad as the first two, but it did cause its share of problems and driving in it was just crazy.  I spoke with some friends in the foothills and they have not received over eight feet of snow beginning with the first storm.

This is the most snow that I have seen since I moved to the Denver area, especially this is the longest that it has stayed on the ground without completely melting in between storms.

And there are rumors for another one coming next week.