Aspen

Snowpack

Brian Lazar · Jan 12, 2018 · Aspen

Weather

Obscured to overcast skies. Light snow from 10AM to 1Pm with maybe an inch of accumulation. Winds were funneling around in funky patterns. At times blowing from the SW and at times from the NE. Most recent and current wind loading occurring from NE winds.

Snowpack

Structured snowpack is developing, but weak layers abound. This is a much weaker snowpack for this area than we've seen over the last several years. Rumbling collpases and shooting cracks on east (10600ft near the "lunch spot") and southeast aspects (~10000 ft "Kiss your sister" exit). The latter collapse on small slopes around 35 degrees. Got cracking and audible whumpf but slope did not move. There is a 1cm thick rain crust down ~20cm up to an elevation of 9600 ft. This is not a concern now, but something to watch. More concerning is the stiffer (4F to 1F-) slabs sitting above well developed depth hoar. Looks a dust event on top of depth hoar. This combo is responsible for the collapses. Ski pen was only ~25cm through recent storm snow, but boot pen was to the ground. Jumping hard on skis could produce collapsing on open slopes. The winds were cross-loading the main bowl, and we didn't like what we saw, so did not venture into the main bowl.