Aspen

Snowpack

Joshua Vogt · Jan 21, 2012 · Gunnison

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Weather

Snow and wind gusts started by 10am, heavy snow and strong winds by noon

Snowpack

Conditions were extremely tender. Widespread cracking and collapsing, starting almost immediately above the road. Numerous whumps, some VERY audible in the less treed areas. We were hearing and seeing these signs before the storm began to really roll in...as weather conditions really deteriorated, we turned around after a little over 1000 feet of ascent. While descending back through the trees, we trigged a slab 40-50 feet wide, 10" crown and slid less than 20 feet. The slope was not terribly steep; 30 degrees. As this storm sets in, no one has any business playing around in the area.