The abundance of January snow coupled with the wide variations in temperature has made Colorado's mountains a mecca for avalanches.

Unless you've actually been in or near an avalanche, it's hard to imagine something as light as snow having this much destructive power until you witness it.

The avalanche was part of a planned mitigation project to make the area along Camp Bird Road headed towards Yankee Boy Basin safer.

This video is an incredible representation of why people need to use extreme caution when in the state's mountains right now. Face it, you wouldn't have a chance of surviving if caught in this avalanche.

More From 99.9 KEKB - Grand Junction's Favorite Country