Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC

Home
United States
Boulder, CO
Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC

Directions Website Contact the organization

CAIC is a public safety organization that provides avalanche information and education.

10/26/2026

On Sunday, Oct. 25, a skier triggered a large wind slab avalanche on an east-facing slope above 14,000 feet on Mount Bross. The skier was partially buried with their head under the snow. Fortunately, their partners performed a swift companion rescue, and recovered the skier in about five minutes. The group was then able to self-evacuate.

This was an extremely close call and a stark reminder that it doesn't take much snow to create dangerous avalanche conditions. Early in the season, the most tempting places to ride are often the most dangerous. While wind-drifted snow looks appealing because it covers shallow obstacles, recent drifting snow built stiff, potentially unstable slabs on high-elevation alpine slopes. These slabs are now large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person.

If you are heading into the high country, avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees where recent snow has drifted, and pay close attention to cracking as a clear sign of slab formation. With the current thin snowpack, even a small avalanche can knock you off your feet and carry you into exposed rocks, downed logs, or over a cliff.

Daily backcountry forecasts resume Nov. 1, but updates will be provided as conditions warrant. Get the latest statewide conditions before you head out at colorado.gov/avalanche.

📸 Oct. 25, 2026: Photos taken by other parties in the area showing the skier-triggered Wind Slab avalanche in Moose Creek Bowl on the east side of Mount Bross.

10/23/2026

❄ Statewide Avalanche Conditions Update | Oct. 24–25, 2026 ❄

Another storm could bring 4 to 8 inches of snow to the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains this weekend, creating new avalanche concerns on steep, upper-elevation, wind-drifted slopes.

The greatest concern is above about 12,500 feet in the Southern and western Central Mountains, particularly on west-, north-, and east-facing slopes where snow from mid-October remains. Rain triggered small wet avalanches earlier this week, but that concern is decreasing as temperatures drop. The Northern Mountains remain mostly bare.

If you're heading into the high country this weekend, avoid steep slopes where snow has drifted. Remember, even a small avalanche can knock you off your feet and take you for a dangerous ride.

Get the latest statewide conditions update at colorado.gov/avalanche. Daily backcountry forecasts resume Nov. 1.

📸 Oct. 23, 2026: Fresh snow above 12,000 feet and wind blowing snow off Kendall Mountain near Silverton (photos 1–2). Near Marble, snow coverage varies, with the snowline around 10,800 feet (photos 3–4).

10/22/2026

We are looking forward to attending the Colorado SnoMo Expo in Denver this weekend 🗻❄

CAIC avalanche forecaster Austin DiVesta will share his love of snowmobiling and present "How to Have a Bad Day in the Mountains: Common Mistakes from Motorized Accidents" on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Be sure to check out Austin's presentation for practical tips on traveling safely in avalanche terrain, and stop by the booth to talk snow and avalanches with our team.

📍 Colorado SnoMo Expo | National Western Complex, Denver
📅 Oct. 23–24

📸 Snowmobiles are an important part of field work at CAIC. Forecasters rely on snow machines to collect snowpack observations and assess avalanche conditions across Colorado's mountains 🌨

10/21/2026

❄️ Conditions update for Thurs, Oct. 22, and the weekend 🏔️

It's still October, but avalanche hazards are developing on steep, snow-covered slopes as a major storm moves through Colorado.

Rain falling on existing snow could produce Wet Loose avalanches on Thursday. As temperatures drop and snow levels fall, snow will start to accumulate above treeline. Six to 12 inches is forecast in the San Juan Mountains by Friday morning, with more snow possible through the weekend. As the rain transitions to accumulating snow, small dry avalanches could develop where snow piles up or drifts.

Heading into the high country this weekend? Choose lower-angle routes and go around steep, snow-covered slopes, especially where drifts are deep enough to cover the ground. Even small avalanches can carry you into rocks.

CAIC's daily avalanche forecasts resume Nov. 1, but we'll provide updates as conditions change.

📸 Recent Wet Loose avalanches on north-, northeast-, and northwest-facing slopes of Mount Baldy in Colorado's Central Mountains, on Weds, Oct. 21.

colorado.gov/avalanche

10/20/2026

Congratulations to Dale Atkins on receiving the J. Hunter Holloway Award, Colorado Search and Rescue Association - CSAR's (CSAR) highest honor 🏅

A former CAIC forecaster and longtime colleague, Dale has made significant contributions to avalanche forecasting, education and research. He's spent decades studying avalanche accidents and human factors, sharing his knowledge through books, articles and training with mountain rescuers around the world.

Thank you, Dale, for 50 years of service to the backcountry search and rescue community, and your many contributions to avalanche safety and mountain rescue!

10/16/2026

🗻 Getting ready for winter ❄

CAIC highway and backcountry teams gathered in Leadville this week for our annual fall training. We covered everything from forecasting uncertainty and radio communications to media training and staff resiliency. We also had a chance to visit with Flight For Life Colorado for training.

Daily backcountry avalanche forecasts begin Nov. 1. We're looking forward to another season of working with our partners and providing avalanche safety information to people traveling and recreating in Colorado's mountains.

Thanks to everyone who helps make this work possible!

📸: Highway and backcountry teams gathering in Leadville for annual fall training, first flakes falling near Independence Pass, and wrapping up the week sharing research at the Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop in Breckenridge.

10/08/2026

📣 The 25th annual Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop (CSAW) is coming up Friday, Oct. 16, in Breckenridge 📣

Join avalanche professionals from across Colorado and beyond to explore the snow science, research and operational experience from the field. This year's presentations cover topics including avalanche forecasting, search and rescue, group decision-making, and the influence of El Niño and La Niña on Colorado's snowpack.

CSAW is an opportunity to learn from one another and bring new knowledge and ideas into the work we do to improve avalanche safety.

🐦 Early bird registration ends Friday, Oct. 9, at 11:59 p.m.

View the agenda and register 👉 avalanche.state.co.us/learn/csaw

📍 Breckenridge Riverwalk Center
📅 Friday, Oct. 16 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

10/05/2026

Last month, we hosted Colorado Department of Natural Resources HR staff for a field tour to learn more about CAIC’s avalanche forecasting and public safety work.

Led by CAIC Director Ethan Greene, the tour included a look at Colorado’s highway avalanche safety program, from Herman Gulch along I-70 to avalanche paths affecting US 6 near Loveland Pass.

The group also visited several backcountry sites on Loveland Pass, including Sheep Creek, where five people were tragically killed in one avalanche in 2013.

Thanks to our DNR colleagues for joining us in the field and getting a closer look at the work CAIC does across Colorado.

📸: CAIC Director Ethan Greene and DNR HR staff during a field tour near Loveland Pass, highlighting CAIC’s highway and backcountry avalanche safety work.

10/01/2026

Congratulations to CAIC’s Ron Simenhois, who received the American Avalanche Association’s Special Service Award this week at ISSW 2026 - International Snow Science Workshop.

The award recognizes outstanding service to the North American snow and avalanche community. Ron’s career spans more than two decades in avalanche forecasting and research. He is best known for developing the Extended Column Test (ECT), now widely used by avalanche professionals in the U.S. and around the world.

His work has also included research on crack propagation, wet and storm snow avalanches, glide avalanches, decision-making and other applied avalanche science.

We’re stoked to see Ron recognized for both his contributions to the field and the curiosity, generosity and mentorship he brings to the avalanche community.

📸 2026 ISSW: Ron receiving the American Avalanche Association’s Special Service Award, while his son, Itai Sheleg, is presenting his own avalanche research as a 2026 Young Snow Professional Award recipient.

09/28/2026

This week, CAIC is joining avalanche professionals and researchers from around the world in Whistler, British Columbia, for the ISSW 2026 - International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW).

ISSW brings together researchers and practitioners to share new science, operational experience and ideas that can improve avalanche forecasting, decision-making and public safety.

CAIC staff are presenting work on avalanche safety, forecasting and risk communication, snowpack and avalanche modeling, climate trends, and emerging technologies. The workshop is also a great opportunity to learn from the international avalanche community and bring new research and ideas back to our work in Colorado.

Learn more about CAIC’s work and presentations at issw2026.com/technical.

Address

325 Broadway WS1
Boulder, CO
80305

Website

http://colorado.gov/avalanche

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC:

Want your organization to be the top-listed government service in Boulder?