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Show COMMENTS This is another classic example of inexperienced, unknowledgable, people venturing into mountainous terrain in the winter. Too frequently such a trip results in tragedy. A strong education program detailing the hazards of the mountains in the winter is needed. These young men could easily have al1 been ki1 led. No. 57- 5 DAM SLIDE, COLORADO 8 April 1957 WEATHER FACTORS This avalanche occured after a very intense spring storm. Seventy- nine inches of new snow fell during the seven previous days. Winds ranged from 12- 36 m. p. h. from the south and west. Wind was above 30 m. p. h. for 36 hours, and above 20 m. p. h. for 66 hours. Temperatures ranged from a + 2° F. to + 25° F. Nearly all avalanches ran either during or after this storm, many as climax slides. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT A professional photographer, H., had been assigned to film a story on avalanches and their control. Assisting him was Wy. The state highway department gun team had agreed to allow the photographers to accompany them while they shot slide paths that threatened the highway over Berthoud Pass. A large storm, accompanied with very strong winds, had abated, and on 8 April, 1957, they decided to shoot. They reached the slide path called the " Dam Slide" because of a dam in the creek at its base. The path is 3,600 feet long, including a 1,500 foot transition at its base. Normal deposition is in this transition zone and in the creek. The highway is on the opposite slope, about 40 feet above and 200 feet away from the creek This slide had not run onto the highway since 1933. H. and his assistant set up three cameras, all encased in waterproof boxes. One was placed in the transition zone, near the eastern edge, one next to the creek, and the third on the highway. Wy. was in the timber on the east side of the avalanche path. H. was on the road, where he could operate that camera and remotely operate the one by the creek. Wy. also operated his camera remotely. A state highway employee Wk., was standing on the road next to his truck and H. The 75mm howitzer was placed farther down the road, and traffic was stopped. At approximately 1400 hrs., three shells were fired, the first two yielding nothing. The third shot released the entire 5O acre catchment basin 33 |
