Aspen
AvalancheMatt Lanning · Apr 19, 2017 · Aspen
Weather
Rain in Aspen at 6am, light snow and calm in Ashcroft, intermittent high winds and snow at/above 13,000'. We ascended and descended an easterly aspect. Saw lots of old wet/chunky slide activity on the way up, but nothing from this storm snow. Easterly aspects held nicely wind transported snow, mostly in the 4-6" range, with pockets of 10-12". Only light sluffing during our ski (around 11am), nothing that would have affected a skier. Clouds broke for a few mins at a time up high, but the snow never warmed. From below Cathedral lake down to Ashcroft, it was warm and sunny (as was the snow).
Snowpack
Easterly aspect, 13,250' elevation, new and transported powder on old snow crust. When the light was right, it was really easy to see the soft snow vs. the blown clean crust. Also, the sheltered couloirs were pretty consistently soft. Below 11k, the snow was heavy, below 10k it was punchy, enroute to isothermic.
Avalanche
All old wet/chunky slides on east and west aspects. Some fairly large, mostly just a nuisance on the exit. Nothing full-track.