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Show No. 62- 1 LOVELAND PASS, COLORADO 7 January 1962 WEATHER FACTORS The storm began early on 6 January. Eighteen inches of snow fell that day, accompanied by a strong northwest wind. The snow and wind continued through the night and during most of the next day. Total new snowfall nted to 26 inches on the eastern side of Loveland. Daytime temperatures were around 20° F. until 1400 hours on the 7th, then dropped to 10°. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT After a 36- hour storm accompanied by strong winds common to the high Rockies, considerable avalanche activity had been observed. The highway had not been closed, nor had control been attempted by artillery. At about 1900 hours, the Floral Park slide ran on Berthoud Pass. At approximately 1930 hours, on the west side of Loveland Pass, the Black Widow avalanche ran. This slide consists of two paths which join just above the highway. One path is 2,500 feet long and the other is 1,500 feet. The slide is 200 feet wide where it crosses the road. When the slide ran, a car with a man, his wife, and three children were directly under it. The car was pushed off the road and buried. Witnesses to the accident summoned help from the local ranger and nearby ski area, and the car was located in a short time. The family was dug from the car, all uninjured but badly shaken. It was believed another car had been caught and probing was continued until confirmation was received that the driver had arrived home safely. At approximately 2000 hours, the Bethel avalanche on the east side of Loveland Pass ran and caught a pickup with two occupants. The truck was swept 150 feet off the highway, and the windows were broken out. Both people were able to get out uninjured. Snow covered the highway to a depth of 3- 4 feet. The highway is on a fill at this point and snow depths away from the roadway were around eight feet. A diversion barrier had been constructed in the transition zone above the road several years before. This barrier has effectively turned some of the Bethel avalanches, and it has always reduced the volume of snow that reaches the road. This barrier may well have saved two lives on this occasion. The Bethel slide is 3,000 feet long, with a 25- acre release zone. COMMENTS Major transcontinental highways are difficult to close because of severe weather and avalanche conditions. There is too much pressure to keep them open, especially for commercial traffic. Nearly every winter several vehicles are caught by slides, but fortunately the occupants usually survive. ( The protective packaging of a steel automotile body offers an obvious advantage.) Loveland Pass ( U. S. Highway 6) has 12 individual avalanche paths, as well as another group made up of 7 slides, side by side. Some of these will run after every storm of moderate or large size. It is interesting to 69 |
