20 ANNUAL 19 REPORT PROMOTING AVALANCHE SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF COLORADO SINCE 1973. 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 1 LETTER FROM COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is a the 2018-2019 avalanche season the CAIC documented program of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources over 4200 avalanches, with 92 incidents where 135 people (DNR). The program is a partnership between the DNR, were caught and eight people were killed. We recorded 87 the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and avalanches in the D4 and D5 levels of the Destructive Size the Friends of the CAIC (FoCAIC), a 501c3 group. The scale (D1 through D5). In the previous 8 years we recorded mission of the CAIC is to provide avalanche information, a total of 24 avalanches in this size range. education, and promote research for the protection of life, property and the enhancement of the state’s economy. This was an extremely challenging year to be working Colorado’s avalanche safety program began in the United in avalanche safety in Colorado and I am very proud of States Forest Service in 1973, as the Colorado Avalanche the work done by the Center’s staff. They worked very Warning Program, and moved to the Colorado Department long hours for days, weeks, and eventually months in a of Natural Resources in 1983 where it continues to this day. row. They provided support to federal, state, and local government groups, public utilities, private companies, The 2018-2019 avalanche season was an amazing time and people just trying to get through the mountains to get to be in Colorado. The way the winter unfolded brought home or enjoy all of the snow. This year followed one of us an extended period with amazing conditions for winter the driest years since 1970. Between changing weather recreation and we had front row seats for the most amazing patterns, increasing population, and a sky rocketing interest avalanche cycle the state has seen in the last 100 years. in winter recreation; the only thing we seem to be able to The snow that fell in October and November changed count on is that the opportunity to face a new challenge into a very weak layer of depth hoar during a fairly dry is just around the corner. I sincerely appreciate all of the December. Once it started snowing again we saw a very support this program gets from the Department of Natural active cycle of human-triggered avalanches, releasing Resources, Department of Transportation, and everyone on this basal weak layer. The Center recorded 57 people that contributes to the Friends of the CAIC. If the last year MISSION caught in 42 avalanches by January of 2019 (34 people in taught us anything it is that we are all working together January alone). Near the end of February the accumulated to keep the mountainous areas of Colorado running and The mission of the CAIC is to provide snowfall for the state blasted past the 30-year average and none of us can do it alone. I look forward to your continued never looked back. Heavy snowfall in early March produced support and to another year of working with you to keep avalanche information, education and an extreme avalanche event beyond anything in recorded the people in Colorado enjoying the snow and staying clear history in Colorado. The Center issued Extreme (Level 5) of avalanches. promote research for the protection of avalanche danger rating for four of our forecast zones and portions of US550 between Ouray and Silverton were Sincerely, life, property and the enhancement of closed for 18 days. Three people were killed, eight homes were damaged or destroyed, infrastructure delivering the state’s economy. utilities was damaged in five counties, and Hinsdale County declared two separate states of emergency to address Ethan Greene the avalanche cycle and the aftermath. The avalanches Director eventually stopped running through mature timber, but the Colorado Avalanche snow continued and the snowpack in Colorado remained Information Center well above the long-term average until early June. During 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 2 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 3 LETTER FROM FRIENDS OF CAIC MISSION Dear Friends, The mission of the Friends of CAIC is The 2018/2019 winter season was one for the record books here in Colorado. The historic avalanche cycle that took place in March to support avalanche forecasting and 2019 was one that many of us may never see again in our lifetime. Watching the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) team education throughout the State of Colorado. come together and work methodically and diligently to keep the public informed and in turn safe from the impacts of the cycle was incredible. I could not be more proud of the CAIC team. The CAIC is largely funded by the State of Colorado, yet the program still relies heavily on donations to support its operations and education programs throughout Colorado. These donations fund avalanche forecaster positions, technology development, and the joint CAIC/Friends of CAIC Know Before You Go avalanche awareness program. Generous support from our donors also allows us to pursue special projects such as research around the March 2019 avalanche cycle, improved resources for avalanche investigations, and weather instrumentation throughout Colorado’s mountains. The Friends of CAIC is an integral voice in avalanche safety and education in Colorado. As we work to significantly increase our financial support to CAIC we encourage everyone – any individual, group, corporation, or business invested in public safety – to connect, learn, and donate to help us grow our collective impact on avalanche safety in Colorado. By uniting the vast network of backcountry users and partners, we can accomplish much more to drive avalanche safety forward. Thank you for your past support and in advance for your continued support. Sincerely, Aaron Carlson Executive Director Friends of CAIC 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 4 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 5 AVALANCHES & ACCIDENTS SNOWFALL PATTERNS STATEWIDE SEASONAL SNOWFALL STATEWIDE SEASONAL SNOWFALL The CAIC recorded information on 4273 avalanches, including 135 people caught. The 2018-2019 total seasonal snowfall was above the long-term average in most parts of the state. Of those caught, 8 were killed. The CAIC published 24 detailed accident reports. The season started early, with above average snowfall in October and early November. Many sites fell below their average in December, but tracked close to the long-term trend through January and February. Heavy snowfall at the end of February brought most sites far above average and they BY FORECAST ZONE stayed that way through March, April, May, and even into June. Statewide, Colorado’s snowpack at peak accumulation on April 5 was 133% of the 30-year median value. STEAMBOAT TOTAL 2019 LOCATION NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. TOTAL % OF AVG 40 Forecast zone: Steamboat AVALANCHES: Recorded Avalanches: 40 Forecast zone: Vail & Summit County 4273 ARAPAHOE BASIN Recorded Avalanches: 478 59 30 41 33 83 40 286 104 BEAVER CREEK 45 59 53 42 88 34 319 119 Forecast zone: Grand Mesa Recorded Avalanches: 313 VAIL BERTHOUD PASS 71 48 68 34 66 40 326 106 285 DENVER BRECKENRIDGE 80 64 60 34 124 53 414 161 COPPER MOUNTAIN ASPEN 58 42 39 31 98 18 286 118 Forecast zone: Aspen Forecast zone: Front Range Recorded Avalanches: 397 GRAND JUNCTION Recorded Avalanches: 500 KEYSTONE (NORTH PEAK) 49 23 115 27 94 17 325 115 550 Forecast zone: Sawatch LOVELAND BASIN 84 43 69 34 108 50 388 117 Recorded Avalanches: 445 Forecast zone: Gunnison Recorded Avalanches: 559 STEAMBOAT 64 76 82 75 96 30 423 142 50 VAIL 72 53 68 46 95 37 369 122 Forecast zone: Northern San Juan WINTERPARK 68 44 59 43 78 45 336 104 Recorded Avalanches: 1107 ASPEN HIGHLANDS 30 39 41 36 93 28 276 114 285 TELLURIDE ASPEN MOUNTAIN 32 36 39 32 80 13 233 107 Sangre de Cristo Forecast zone: Southern San Juan Forecast zone: 19 GOTHIC 41 39 58 46 95 34 314 94 Recorded Avalanches: 415 Recorded Avalanches: MCCLURE PASS 25 41 54 46 58 10 233 95 MONARCH MOUNTAIN DURANGO 12 25 63 39 74 2 214 87 SKI AREA RED MOUNTAIN PASS 29 64 60 63 105 41 361 130 PEOPLE CAUGHT IN AVALANCHES TELLURIDE 20 54 60 70 114 13 332 161 2010 42 8 WOLF CREEK SKI AREA 138 37 93 147 129 10 554 138 2011 50 7 CAUGHT 2012 52 7 MONUMENT PASS KILLED 17 48 49 47 69 20 249 121 2013 99 11 2014 83 8 COAL BANK PASS 14 36 78 125 117 24 392 138 2015 50 3 35 5 2016 MOLAS PASS 20 33 62 81 115 22 332 137 2017 80 1 2018 45 3 2019 135 8 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 6 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 7 MEDIA CONTACTS EDUCATION AND COURSES WEBSITE, APP & SOCIAL MEDIA ATTENDANCE & EVENTS CAIC staff gave203 interviews to press and media contacts, including Colorado, national, and international news organizations 5,664 165 STUDENTS EDUCATION ATTENDED EVENTS YEAR OVER YEAR 12000 200 # OF STUDENTS 10000 # OF COURSES 13,745 2,768,019 150 APP DOWNLOADS WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS 8000 SOCIAL MEDIA 6000 100 # OF COURSES # OF STUDENTS 4000 50 2000 16,918 13,455 FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS Facebook 0 0 13,238 14,646 FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS Instagram 1,924 2,885 FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS Twitter 1,255 N/A FOLLOWERS YouTube 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 8 2019 CAIC ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 9 FY19 CAIC STAFF REVENUE & EXPENDITURES CAIC & FRIENDS OF CAIC REVENUE Severance Tax ....................................................