Aspen
AvalancheColin Mitchell · Dec 4, 2016 · Aspen
Weather
Clear and cool with a light westerly breeze. A few plumes were visible off of the higher peaks, probably a pre-cursor to the higher winds forecast to move into the area today.
Snowpack
Last week's snow is very loose, faceted DF grains down to a depth of about 10 cm, after which the layer slowly becomes stiffer and more consolidated as you approach the interface of last week's snow and the old snow. 5-10 mm surface hoar was widespread in open areas from the valley floor to 9,800', and potentially higher. Lower in the pack, are larger and more well-developed facets. All are showing signs of rounding and bonding, but the basal layer (1.5mm FC/DH rounding) from Nov. 18th is propagating with moderate results in snowpack tests. This layer is moist, and only 5 cm thick. It is pierced by, and intermixed with, a lot of vegetation and other ground cover. It is unclear if it is continuous enough to provide the propagation pathway for a larger failure. The two concerns here are bonding of new snow to a weak snow surface, and potentially overloading the weaker snow near or at the ground. Lower elevation slopes like Flatiron, and the Headaches are holding 6-12" of mostly faceted snow.
Avalanche
None observed or reported