Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Justina Liss · Dec 25, 2022 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

NE face at 11,600, gold hill. Overcast skies for most of the day, obscuring nearby peaks at times. Winds from the W/NW were light, with some moderate gusts and one or two strong gusts rolling through. Clouds broke briefly after noon. Temps in the high twenties, though the breeze made it feel cooler.

Snowpack

Dug a pit near treeline, NE face at 11,600. Total snow height 85 cm. 0-20 cm from ground is large, old, facets. 20-25 is a pen-hard crust, comprised of faceted grains measuring generally around 1mm. 25-32 fist hard, faceted grains a bit smaller than the older layer at the ground. 32-58 cm pen-hard slab layer. 58-65 cm fist hard snow, grains 1mm and smaller. 65-68 is a thin, pen hard crust, most likely formed in the recent wind event. 68-85 is soft, fresh snow. Skis penetrated through about the first 10-15 cm, being supported by the crust layer.