Aspen

Avalanche

Shane Edmonds · Jan 3, 2017 · Aspen

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Weather

Light to moderate snow all day, more wind the higher you went. Ski tracks from 3 hours ago were filled in with 4-6 inches of snow at lunch spot.

Snowpack

12 inches of new snow. Hand shear tests were easy within the new snow. Light fluffy styrofoam like snow (won't hold much snow on top of this) Sharp turns on steeper terrain would bring a lot of snow with you. Didn't see any collapsing, but there were shooting cracks.

Avalanche

Below tree line skier triggered avalanche in trees. Short steep pitch with enough debris to take a skier into trees. 12 inch slab which broke after first turn on slope. 100 feet wide 200 feet long. One other short steep slope broke, didn't go far, but was a slab and had blocks of snow. South East aspect of Marble Peak bowl natural avalanche R1 D1 yesterday or early today.