Justin A. Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Is everyone here ok? I just heard about an avalanche on Hwy 40 in Colorado, a couple of cars got buried and the road's been closed for awhile...On the upside, it looks like the slide took out some trees which looks like it made for some good *semi* backcountry riding, if you're in the habit of parking on the interstate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Huge Avalanche Buries Cars in Colorado By Associated Press <SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(getElapsed("20070106T195431Z"));</SCRIPT>2 hours ago<NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> DENVER - A huge avalanche buried cars Saturday and may have pushed others over the edge Saturday on U.S. 40 near 11,307-foot-high Berthoud Pass, Colorado highway officials said. "Our crews said it was the largest they have ever seen. It took three paths," said Stacey Stegman, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Seven people had been rescued and one was taken to a hospital, Stegman said. The slide buried at least two cars, state Patrolman Eric Wynn told CNN. Crews were probing the area for other vehicles, including any that may have gone off the road, Stegman said. The avalanche was described as 100 feet wide and 15 feet deep. The area usually has slides 2 to 3 feet deep, Stegman told CNN. "This is a tremendous amount of snow to come down the mountain for us," she said. Three snow storms in as many weeks have dumped more than 4 feet of snow on parts of Colorado. Berthoud Pass is the main route to Winter Park, one of Colorado's largest ski areas. Stegman said the late-morning timing meant most traffic headed to the ski area had already passed. "If it would've happened just a couple of hours earlier, this would've been a very different situation," she told CNN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 here in CO they just love hyping the snow fall, im ready to beat the local forcaster, with her own red umbrella! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfj04 Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 So we really didn't have an avalanche and 4 feet of snow here? Hmmm - I guess I shoveling at least that much of invisible snow since before Xmas and Hwy 40 nevered closed? For everyone else, the top of Berthoud Pass is home to an old/closed resort. A lot of people still park in the lot and go backcounty out of there and get picked up at the bottom of the runs which finish at Hyw 40. Riders then hitch back up or use the classic skateboard version with multiple cars parked at the bottom and used as a shuttle. There's no emergency crew around so it truelly is backcountry with the benefit of getting back to a road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin A. Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 So we really didn't have an avalanche and 4 feet of snow here? Hmmm - I guess I shoveling at least that much of invisible snow since before Xmas and Hwy 40 nevered closed?For everyone else, the top of Berthoud Pass is home to an old/closed resort. A lot of people still park in the lot and go backcounty out of there and get picked up at the bottom of the runs which finish at Hyw 40. Riders then hitch back up or use the classic skateboard version with multiple cars parked at the bottom and used as a shuttle. There's no emergency crew around so it truelly is backcountry with the benefit of getting back to a road. That makes sense...in the video I saw I thought that those trail looking paths were cut by the slide, but if it used to be a ski area, that makes much more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor VonRippington Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Berthoud Pass has gotten well over 4 feet of snow in as many weeks. The last report I got on the avalanche was that six cars were burried and they are still looking for more (local rumors... might not be 100% accurate). The road will be closed for at least a day or two. This is a very serious situation, but at the moment they are not reporting any deaths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor VonRippington Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 The chutes in the pics are avalance chutes that have exsited for many years. The runs CJ is talking about are accessed a little higher up... but many people do ride those chutes and get picked up on the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 yeah, didn't they tried to revive that ski resort not too long ago a year or two ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor VonRippington Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 yeah, didn't they tried to revive that ski resort not too long ago a year or two ago? It's been a couple years at least... I think it became a forest service lease issue. They were trying to sell the lodge for $1, but no one wanted to haul it out of there... so they tore it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 here in CO they just love hyping the snow fall, im ready to beat the local forcaster, with her own red umbrella! not sure what you were intending with this post. Are you saying they lied about the snowfall and the subsequent avalanche(s)? those pics show some pretty large amounts of snow having moved. wow. Still looks like no one was killed. phew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wavechaser Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 rather impressive.....http://www.thedenverchannel.com/slideshow/10685470/detail.html?qs=;s=8;p=/news/;dm=ss;w=400&taf=den Ironic little link under the photos that says "Email Slide To a Friend"...or an enemy?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bird Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 This avalanche shows the amount of snow and wind deposit that we have had recently. Today, about the time of the slide, I was on top of the bowl at WP and quickly said 'lets get the hell out of here' due to the wind and blowing snow. The Stanley slide path is definately an impressive spot. The slide only covered one of the two highway crossings that are in the path. goes to show how much bigger the slides have been in the past. Fascinating stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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