Front Range

Location: Hidden Knoll, Berthoud Pass Elevation: ~11,800 Aspect: NE Skier-triggered avalanche on far skier left of Y Chute (slope 35-40 degrees), where there are some rocks, a more convex shape and less relative shade. At 9:30am, we were deciding to go back up to Current Creek Bench or ski Hidden Knoll back to the parking lot. It felt much warmer than the forecast and seemed above freezing. We saw roller balls on east-facing slopes underneath cornices on Current Creek bench, so we decided to head back down to the lot instead of opting for a longer last run from the top of the bench. Based on the forecast (danger level 1 near treeline) and our experience on the snow that day, we thought the steeper angle terrain in the chute would be stable. I went first down the middle and skier right of the chute, which was tracked by maybe 5 previous people since the last snowfall. Very minor sloughing from turns. My friend then went skier left, which was untracked and above some rocks (see photo). After his second turn, he triggered a wet-loose avalanche roughly 15-20 feet wide and was able to ski out of it quickly to the side of the chute. The slide funneled in the rocks and slid another 30-40 feet down the chute.

Weather felt above freezing, higher than the NWS forecast for the time of day.