Accident Report
West of Monarch Pass - CO
1 backcountry tourer caught - not buried - 2025/02/02
Backcountry Area: Sawatch
Published: 2025/02/02
Accident Summary
Observation Summary
A dog triggered (but was not caught in) a D1 wet loose on an E aspect around 1345 above highway 50 near the summit of Monarch Pass. Two skiers rescued the dog and while doing so they each triggered a D1 wet loose, for a total of 3 avalanches. One skier took his/her skis off and triggered the avalanche by walking down the slope, going for a very short ride (less than 5 feet), while the other skier kept his/her skis on and stayed on top of the third avalanche. Air temperatures are hot, ~40°F, sky cover is scattered (3/8), and the snow is wet (pendular regime).
Route Description
Snowstake pullout, Monarch Pass 38.498867,-106.332531
Avalanches
Caught in an avalanche
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Expand to see more details
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Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type | Location |
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02/02/2025
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1 | <TL | E | L | AF/u | R1 | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date, Time & Site
Date and Time
02/02/2025 -
1:45pm
(known) Bed Surface
Sliding Surface
O
Comments
Incident
Yes
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02/02/2025
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1 | <TL | E | L | AS/u | R1 | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date, Time & Site
Date and Time
02/02/2025 -
1:45pm
(known) Bed Surface
Sliding Surface
O
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02/02/2025
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1 | <TL | E | L | AW | R1 | D1 | Loose Wet |
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Date, Time & Site
Date and Time
02/02/2025 -
1:45pm
(known) |
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Multiple Avalanches
- *
Incident