Aspen
AvalancheBrian Lazar · Apr 1, 2021 · Aspen
Weather
Warm, sunny, with gentle ridgetop breeze.
Snowpack
Average snowpack depth between 175 and 190cm around 12,000 feet. There is a supportable crust below the ~10cm of recent drifted snow, and the mid-March crust-facet combination around 40-50cm deep. The middle of the snowpack is a stiff (1F to P hard) slab around a meter thick, all resting on large, but rounding depth hoar. The crust-facet combo down ~50cm is most worrisome when it sees more water, and can produce Wet Slab avalanches. It looks like we need more sustained warming without nighttime freezes before water infiltration threatens to moisten the depth hoar, expect in thinner rocky areas. Low-elevation slopes are melting out quickly especially below 10,000 ft. By mid day these slopes were saturated throughout but there is little volume left.
Avalanche
Photos of previously reported avalanches in Big Mama bowl. Also saw was appeared to be recent Wet Slab avalanche on a northwest-facing slope right near treeline.