Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Jan 10, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

No snow accumulation during the afternoon when I was out. There was light wind loading near the 11k ft ridge that I was near but I am assuming wind loading was still intense up high. About 20cms of new snow from overnight and an estimate of 50cms of storm snow. Snow depths ranged from 140cms to 170cms.

Snowpack

I did not go near any steep slopes today so the data I gathered is from below treeline terrain less than 30 degrees. I did not experience any cracking or collapsing and small low 30 degree test slopes did not produce any results...In three different snowpits on north-facing slopes between 10k and 11k. I found consistent ECTP results about 40-50cms down on a layer of precipitation particles. This layer is likely the beginning of the storm as it came in cold and warmed up. No other notable results in snowpits. BTL there is advanced facets at the ground (no depth hoar) and the facets are four-finger hardness. No results on the basal layer and it was hard to find any faceted layer from New Years day.