The Crested Butte Avalanche Center is now open for the 2012-2013
season! While the first year the CBAC was in operation was 2001, this is our 10th
anniversary of becoming “officially” incorporated as a non-profit entity. Since we opened ten years ago the CBAC
had grown into a professional forecasting office with a staff of 4 forecasters
and a board of directors of 10 local professionals and backcountry enthusiasts
with diverse backgrounds. New this year we will be introducing CBAC Ambassadors
who will be the extended face of the CBAC out in the backcountry and here in
town as well.
Look for the CBAC to be making some changes to our website
product this year. The avalanche forecasting community is making a move to
become more consistent with what the avalanche danger means and how to
determine what the avalanche problem of the day is. Once the main avalanche
problem is determined, it is a bit easier to figure out how to manage the risk
for that particular day. Not all avalanche problems are created equal, and not
all problems should be dealt with in the same way. Hopefully our new format
will make it more evident to backcountry users as to what their considerations
for the day should be. Of course we will still have days when our complex
snowpack dictates that there is more than just one avalanche problem out there!
While things are slow to get rolling with snowfall in the
backcountry so far this year it is important to remember that if there is
enough snow to play in, there is also enough to create an avalanche. While the current avalanche danger is
limited to specific areas (where there is actually accumulated snow!) we have
already seen some large and impressive slides earlier this month. In your quest
to get your season on track, remember to take the time to pay attention to the
snowpack. Not just for today’s avalanche conditions, but for what might evolve
for the rest of the season. When we get early season snow, and then long dry
periods, the snow tends to “rot” or facet. This faceted snow will create a weak
layer near the ground, which will be the supporting snow layer for additional
snows to (hopefully) come. With a weak supporting structure we can expect to
have an active avalanche season! The good news is that with a lot of bare
ground showing out there right now, there is no weak base structure yet in some
areas. These might be the best places to play in the coming winter.
With not much quality skiing or riding out there just yet,
this is a great time to brush up on your avalanche knowledge. The CBAC, in
conjunction with Crested Butte Mountain Guides and the Alpineer will be hosting
a “Beacon Brush Up” day on Saturday December 1st. Come on out from
11-3 in the Town Park to learn or practice your beacon skills, demo new
avalanche beacons and airbags and get tips from the pros. The Alpineer will
host a gathering afterwards from 3-6pm with food and beer as well as special
discounts on avalanche gear.
For more information on avalanche danger ratings or
avalanche problems, to get the daily avalanche bulletin in the Crested Butte
area, to submit your backcountry observations, or to become a sponsor of the
Crested Butte Avalanche Center, check out our website www.cbavalanchecenter.org.
