Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Ron Simenhois · May 13, 2021 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Above freezing temps and increasing cloud cover. Mod to string N-NW winds was blowing snow around ridge tops.

Snowpack

The snowpack on NE-E aspects, > TL was less than 1 m deep and strong. Recent snowfall fell in 10 cm + thick CR layer. At above 12k, the new snow was getting moist with the morning sun, but below the new snow, the snowpack is dry. The bottom of the snowpack still consists of a relatively weak basal layer of large rounding DH. On S aspect around TL the snowpack is thinner and already gone though wetting process. Winds on rodge tops leave a thin (< 10 cm), fresh winds slab on lee slopes. This newly blown wind slab is bonding well to the old snow. See snowpit for more details.