Avalanche Danger In Areas Not Usually Prone To Slides

MONTEZUMA, Colo. (CBS4) - Staggering snow pack in the mountains is adding up to record avalanche danger. The threat stretches to areas that haven't seen slides in decades.

Experts want people to appreciate the risk.

"Basically, it can't stay up there," avalanche expert Dan Moroz said.

One avalanche took out a 70 foot steel Xcel Energy tower near Montezuma.

"We're talking hundreds of thousands of pounds traveling at 60 miles per hour," Moroz said.

In some places the snowpack is 150 percent of what it usually is.

"I've been in Summit County for 37 years," Moroz said. "We've never seen this much snow."

A rapid warm up is going to make the snow heavy and really stress out snow slabs.

"You can only pull a rubber band so far before it breaks," Moroz said. "If you were buried in something like this you would be just frozen in place like cement."

People are still carving in back country and getting in a last second snow shoe. Moroz says to head up around 6 a.m. and get off by noon or when the snow feels slushy.

"Go home, go have a margarita, go enjoy the afternoon."

When heading up to the back country, make sure you're well equipped. Things like a beacon and shovel are a must.