Avalanche in Chicago Basin

[daway8]

Anyone have more info on this report posted on the Durango/Silverton railroad website? What trail is this blocking? The one from Needleton? Purgatory? Vallecito?

Did this come from someone prone to dramatize or is this likely to be a significant obstacle once the snow melts out and there is a pile of trees left? Are we talking a massive pile of trees on the trail or mostly on the hillside with an occasional log to hop on the trail?

I noticed someone inquiring at the tail end of another thread but figured I’d put it in a thread of its own since I know a number of people will likely want to know details. Here’s the post from https://www.durangotrain.com/wilderness ... QRVn4hKiUk

Please be advised of the following firsthand account from skier in Chicago Basin on June 5, 2019
Snow about 9,200 feet. Debris fields are significant with multiple slides, some running north side and up south side 100-200 feet up opposite side and back down into trail. Debris fields seem solid on top but starting to rot underneath and were becoming very unstable. They were very nervous coming out climbing over, worried about breaking through and knowing it was all trees. Snow measured with probe at 11,000 feet: 140 cm of snow Skied Eolus with no instability but could see where other areas (Windom) would be unstable. New York Basin Bridge huge increase in flow in 2 days. All creeks running heavy and thought some would possibly come down trail and cause significant damage to trail. Felt that mid-July might be an early estimate for snow to melt out of trail but that the basin and higher up would be even later.

[lodgling]

This is not a big deal. There is still a lot of snow but the debris is negligible. I think this was an attempt to discourage unprepared walkers. I’d say Chicago Basin is A few weeks behind schedule.

[daway8]

Good, I thought that might be the case. With avalanches seemingly more common and widespread this season it seems like maybe some people are encountering them in person for the first time and greatly dramatizing what they see. Another case of "save the drama fo' yo mama"

[mamaneedsahike]

There were just some pics posted by someone on instagram with #chicagobasin so I actually just posed the question to them about what the debris was like. Pics were obviously still very snowy but I didn't see any with debris. I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering and encouraged that you think it's a case of exaggeration. I will report back when the instagram poster gets back to me with his report.

[BratwurstGoblin]

I’d say Chicago Basin is A few weeks behind schedule.

What would you say is "on time" for Chicago Basin in an average season?

[Monte Meals]

"What would you say is "on time" for Chicago Basin in an average season?"

Notwithstanding avi debris ...
As soon as the spring snow is stable enough to ski

[mhbrown]

I spoke with a helpful person at the San Juan Forest station who said that all they have is this one report and that they are sending a group in this week to asses the situation.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Colorado/comme ... che_after/. Picture from Elk Creek trail damage.
Also see: https://sjma.org/trail-updates/

[mamaneedsahike]

There were just some pics posted by someone on instagram with #chicagobasin so I actually just posed the question to them about what the debris was like. Pics were obviously still very snowy but I didn't see any with debris. I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering and encouraged that you think it's a case of exaggeration. I will report back when the instagram poster gets back to me with his report.

The instagram poster said there was lots of debris and three large slides across the trail.

[daway8]

Hmmm, looks like I'll need to keep an eye on this - and maybe I should start working out in the jungle gym with full pack on just in case in order to be ready for the trip I have scheduled a little over a month from now...

[mamaneedsahike]

Hmmm, looks like I'll need to keep an eye on this - and maybe I should start working out in the jungle gym with full pack on just in case in order to be ready for the trip I have scheduled a little over a month from now...

No kidding on the jungle gym! We are one month out from our Chicago basin trip as well! Super hopeful the peaks melt out soon. I went to college in Durango and I don't ever remember having to worry about snow after 4th of July...but maybe that's because I was in college and drank more beer than I did plan backpacking trips. Are you riding the train or backpacking all the way in? Planning on spikes or anything?

[daway8]

Hmmm, looks like I'll need to keep an eye on this - and maybe I should start working out in the jungle gym with full pack on just in case in order to be ready for the trip I have scheduled a little over a month from now...

No kidding on the jungle gym! We are one month out from our Chicago basin trip as well! Super hopeful the peaks melt out soon. I went to college in Durango and I don't ever remember having to worry about snow after 4th of July...but maybe that's because I was in college and drank more beer than I did plan backpacking trips. Are you riding the train or backpacking all the way in? Planning on spikes or anything?

I'm riding the train to save time. Definitely planning to have microspikes and trekking poles with me - I'll decide when the time gets closer if anything further is warranted.

[lodgling]

OK, for what they are worth here are some photos (from June 8-9 weekend).

This is where the largest of three slides interacts with the summer trail. First two show some of the debris. Third one shows the slide path that the debris came from. Last one includes ski pole for perspective on size of trees. The large trees that were torn out came from the edges of the well-worn slide path, so they only cover 50 yards or so. Probably added a few minutes to the hiking, keeping in mind that I also had skis and ski boots attached to my overnight pack on the way up. For instance, on this path I was only forced to climb over one tree. I was able to navigate around the others. The other paths were similar. On the way down I was able to keep the skis on and go above or below the deposition piles.

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