Aspen

Snowpack

Rob Hunker · Feb 12, 2014 · Aspen

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Weather

1330hrs at McClure Snotel site: MC/OC, 30F; 63%, NW 6/10, HS 58"

Snowpack

HS 70"; surface layer soft and cohesionless; midpack layer strong cohesive slab; lower midpack cohesionless surface hoar layer @ 38"; basal layer faceted/mixed grain with a soft, cohesionless thin faceted layer at 25" with an ECT after 30. These 2 weak layers of concern: the thin faceted basal layer failed before the surface hoar layer; but both required a hard force for failure. Failure of either of these layers will LIKELY take a storm load of 2.5" swe during a 3 day event...with a large avalanche going to ground crossing highway 133.