Accident Report
Flattop Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park - CO
1 backcountry tourer caught - not buried - 2025/03/06
Backcountry Area: Front Range
Status: Final Report
Published: 2025/03/07
Accident Summary
Observation Summary
Triggered a small 4 inch wind slab at the top of the couloir while ski cutting. Flushed most of the problem layer. Upper half of the line skied like dust on crust. Lower half hot pow. Sun came out for maybe 2 hours in the morning and cooked E and SE. Rollerballs everywhere in the apron from releases on the rocks. As we left storm rolled in and snow began to fall. Felt like May not March!!
Route Description
Skinned up flat top, skied Dead Elk
Avalanche
Caught in an avalanche
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Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type | Location |
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03/06/2025
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1 | >TL | E | SS | AS/c | R1 | D1 | Wind Slab |
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Date, Time & Site
Date and Time
03/06/2025 -
12:00pm
(known) Dimensions
Avg Depth
4 in
Comments
Area Description
Dead Elk
Incident
Yes
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Snowpack
Cracking:
Minor
Collapsing:
Minor