Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Robert Coppolillo · Jan 13, 2018 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Broken skies with periods of sun, occasional S-1 flurries, mid-20s, calm winds.

Snowpack

Traveled on W, SW, NW aspects---widespread whumpfing below treeline. Toured up to 10,900. 20cm new on average. SW aspect, 20-degree slope, HS 90cm, CTM x2 SC on 2mm depth hoar 65cm down. 10845 feet. ECTX, NW aspect, 28-degree slope, 10,900ft, HS 85cm, 40cm of depth hoar, unconsolidated snow above that, nothing stiff enough to propagate, shovel just progressively collapsed snow beneath it down to the ground.

Avalanche

Observed across valley, R2 D2 (approx; viewed from across valley) in sled terrain, E aspect at a rollover, approx 50 feet wide, ran to bench below maybe 125 feet vertical run.