Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Jan 4, 2024 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Nearly overcast skies with light snowfall that accumulated to less than 1cm while I was in the field. Winds were calm.
Snowpack
I observed a snowpack that averaged from 50-80cm deep where I traveled near treeline. The deepest area I probed was in a drift on an east-facing slope that was just over a meter deep. In the sheltered, shady trees I ascended, the snow depth was consistently 80cm. Southerly slopes ranged from 30cm to 70cm deep on Wingle Ridge. This area seems more like other areas on the southern and eastern side of Summit County than areas in the Gore Range that are consistently deeper. The upper snowpack here is generally weak and basal weak layers were unreactive. There is weak snow near the surface and weak snow buried about one to two feet deep. It seems likely that these layers will be the primary layers of concern with the next storm. It doesn't look like the next storm will have enough weight to impact basal facet layers.