Aspen

Avalanche

Very large natural avalanche off Raspberry Ridge north of Marble Peak. The slide ran sometime after 3:30Pm Feb 16, and before 8:00AM Feb 17. Most likely ran late afternoon/early evening of the 16th coinciding with a period of moderate snowfall and intense wind-loading. This avalanche looks like it initially broke around 2 feet deep in the recent storm snow since Valentine's Day, but then stepped down in places 4 to 5 feet deep, likely breaking on mid January layer of near-surface facets. The initial avalanche broke around 1200 wide wide, across a rib feature, and took out two small bowls. This triggered smaller avalanches on the way down. The avalanche ran 2000 vertical feet, burying and crossing the quarry road.