Aspen
AvalancheBrian Lazar · Jan 6, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
Day started off gusty with west northwest winds moving some snow at ridgetop. Winds eased off around 1pm. Temperatures were warm (upper 20s around 11000 ft), and skies were obscured to overcast. A dark grey cloud deck stay fixed in place around 13000 ft all day. There was 4 to 6 inches of new snow overnight, with graupel on the snow surface.
Snowpack
Average height of snow is 3m in places that avalanched early in the season on north, northeast, and east-facing slopes. Its a ~4m deep snowpack on those aspects that have not avalanched this year. There is a ~2m slab composed of recent storm snow that is 1F hardness at the bottom and 4F hardness at the top with no discernable weak layers within. The Dec 23rd interface seems non reactive. There are still basal facets, but there are very few areas where you could impact that layer given the depth of the snowpack. Southerly facing slopes hold ~165cm of snow, comprised entirely of storm snow from December, with no discernable weak layers of concern. Despite some drifting snow at ridgelines, fresh wind-drifted slabs did not pose a concern near and below treeline (we did not travel in the alpine). The recent winds have built some impressive cornices that need a wide buffer when travelling along ridgelines.
Avalanche
One small fresh Wind Slab avalanche off Mud Peak. This crown was mostly filled in, so likely ran late on Jan 5 or early Jan 6.