Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Feb 21, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

Mostly clear skies for the majority of the day. Clouds did not move in till 3 PM and skies are overcast at present (4 PM). Gusty winds above 12,000 ft on exposed ridgelines. Gusts were estimated at 40 MPH, it was hard to stand at times. With the strong winds transported snow was mostly sublimating and not effectively loading.

Snowpack

Several snowpits indicated weak snow beneath 8 to 12 inches of wind-drifted snow. These areas of poor snowpack structure are very pockety and not widespread. The most likely area to find these wind slabs are in gully-like terrain features on a variety of aspects. Also, easterly slopes near treeline seem to be the specific location where you are most likely to find a larger wind slab that is more connected across a slope. On an easterly near treeline slope an extended column test indicated propagation potential after 11 taps. Compression tests failed easily after just one or two taps. The faceted snow sits on top of an impenetrable crust on south and east aspects with a one-finger hard slab above. Ski penetration is only about an inch on the hard slab of snow and it would be difficult to trigger an avalanche on slopes less than about 37 degrees. On non wind-affected slopes there is only 2 to 4 inches of snow on top of a crust and very little associated hazard.