News Link
Neither was injured. Video supplied by the skiers used by Crested Butte Avalanche Center in an educational piece.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Blizzard Shuts Down Schools, Roads and Airport in Denver
News Link
Up to 2 feet of snow in the foothills. Power and internet out to 90,000. 1,200 flights at DIA cancelled.
Up to 2 feet of snow in the foothills. Power and internet out to 90,000. 1,200 flights at DIA cancelled.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Moose Increasing Risk at Ski Resorts
News Link
Moose population now estimated at 2,500. Ski areas provide an easier path to walk through deep mountain snow. Won't be long till a crowd surrounds a moose trying to get selfies and end up being head-butted.
Moose population now estimated at 2,500. Ski areas provide an easier path to walk through deep mountain snow. Won't be long till a crowd surrounds a moose trying to get selfies and end up being head-butted.
Wildfire in El Paso County Contained
News Link
An evacuation order was issued for Yoder but crews quickly got the 100 acre grass fire under control.
An evacuation order was issued for Yoder but crews quickly got the 100 acre grass fire under control.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Bear Opens Door and Gets in House Near Estes Park
News Link
The warm weather must have got this bear up early but read the story about how the man shooed it out of his house. Fresh cookies in the kitchen, bears are believed to be able to smell sweets as much as 5 miles away.
The warm weather must have got this bear up early but read the story about how the man shooed it out of his house. Fresh cookies in the kitchen, bears are believed to be able to smell sweets as much as 5 miles away.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Very Interesting 2015 Severe Weather Map by NOAA
This map sure alters my perception of severe weather events. High winds account for more than half of all severe weather and the Front Range in Colorado clearly marks the dividing line between the eastern US with lots of severe weather and western US with very little severe weather. This map makes it pretty clear that few of the injuries resulting from high winds are reported in the news. I also notice that the Front Range has one of the highest concentrations in the US of hail storms with hail > 2". The map does not show lightning but here's a separate map for that.
Colorado ranks in the top 10 in the US for the number of people killed and injured by lightning despite having a relatively low population and a moderate amount of flash activity. On a per capita basis, Colorado ranks 4th in the US. There are two main reasons that Colorado has an above-average incidence of lightning victims. 15 million people a year visit Colorado and a majority are here for outdoor activities. Many are first time visitors and aren't aware that being on peaks or other exposed high points in the Rockies when clouds are present increases the risk of being struck.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
CDOT Studies Rock Shed for Glenwood Canyon Rockfall
News Link
This approach seems like a non-starter to me. It would only cover 400 feet of roadway at a cost that will probably be more than $50 million based on the only project of this type, Big Sur's 245 foot rock shed at $39 million.The visual impact of a rock shed would pretty much negate all the awards the I-70 design team received for environmental sensitivity. Construction of a tunnel would probably be a less expensive alternative to a rock shed based on the studies done for Vail, would reduce the visual impact and could be done with minimum disruption to traffic during its construction. The least expensive approach would be to monitor the cliff face at mile 125 and design preventative rock scaling projects on an as-needed basis.
This approach seems like a non-starter to me. It would only cover 400 feet of roadway at a cost that will probably be more than $50 million based on the only project of this type, Big Sur's 245 foot rock shed at $39 million.The visual impact of a rock shed would pretty much negate all the awards the I-70 design team received for environmental sensitivity. Construction of a tunnel would probably be a less expensive alternative to a rock shed based on the studies done for Vail, would reduce the visual impact and could be done with minimum disruption to traffic during its construction. The least expensive approach would be to monitor the cliff face at mile 125 and design preventative rock scaling projects on an as-needed basis.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Study Has Long Term Trends for Avalanche Incidents in Backcountry
News Link
For Colorado, the trend is a lower number of incidents despite an increase in backcountry use. Incidents involving snowmobiles are rising.
A surprising result of the study - single or pairs of backcountry skiers less likely to be buried in an avalanche than large groups.
For Colorado, the trend is a lower number of incidents despite an increase in backcountry use. Incidents involving snowmobiles are rising.
A surprising result of the study - single or pairs of backcountry skiers less likely to be buried in an avalanche than large groups.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Colorado Springs Skier Dies After Hitting Tree at Telluride
News Link
A second man died at Cooper Mountain, the cause is under investigation.
A second man died at Cooper Mountain, the cause is under investigation.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Colorado Mountains Record Lowest February Snowfall in 30 Years
News Link
El nino has simply disappeared.
El nino has simply disappeared.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
USGS Study of Colbran Landslide Shows Rockslide 10 Hours Before Landslide Was The Trigger
News Link
The rockslide came off a cliff above the head scarp of the landslide and blocked and backed up flow in an irrigation ditch. The backed-up water soaking the ground along with rainfall and snow melt and the additional weight of the rock and water at the top of the slide was enough to cause the massive ground failure and movement of the Colbran slide. The 3 ranchers that were buried in the landslide had gone up to inspect where the irrigation ditch was blocked.
The rockslide came off a cliff above the head scarp of the landslide and blocked and backed up flow in an irrigation ditch. The backed-up water soaking the ground along with rainfall and snow melt and the additional weight of the rock and water at the top of the slide was enough to cause the massive ground failure and movement of the Colbran slide. The 3 ranchers that were buried in the landslide had gone up to inspect where the irrigation ditch was blocked.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Denver Woman Dies Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
News Link
The 38 year-old woman recently moved here from Texas. Investigators are not sure what happened. My guess is that she slipped on an icy patch on the trail and fell. A Florida man fell and died in RMNP in January.
The 38 year-old woman recently moved here from Texas. Investigators are not sure what happened. My guess is that she slipped on an icy patch on the trail and fell. A Florida man fell and died in RMNP in January.
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