VIDEO: CAIC Director Explains Colorado’s Current ‘Once Every 10-Years’ Snowpack

Why is this season’s snowpack a different beast? Ethan Greene, Director of the CAIC explains why someone who has been backcountry skiing for 10 years in Colorado probably has never seen a snowpack like this one.

Aaron Carlson, executive director of Friends of CAIC, adds context to the number of accidents we’ve seen this year.

• Related: Colorado Is Experiencing Once-In-A-Decade Snowpack And High Avalanche Risk

Please watch and think about these conditions as you consider backcountry travel. Please read the forecast before you go! Let’s join together as a community and turn these trends around.

All the footage and pictures are from this season, 2020/2021.

There have been 11 fatalities in Colorado this season, more than the year-long average of 6, and it’s only February.

There have been 21 fatalities across the US in February alone.