Aspen
AvalancheMatt Huber · Mar 30, 2020 · Aspen
Weather
A mix of snow, graupel and a brief period of small, pea size hail fell throughout the trip. Winds were intermittently blowing snow on ridges above treeline. Low cloud cover blocked visibility for the majority of the trip
Snowpack
I was able to dig near treeline on a southwest aspect to look at the wet depth hoar interface that produced easy, propagating failures last week. Recent cold temperatures locked that interface down. About 20 centimeters of snow has fallen since March 28, with light winds since then much of it is still available for wind transport. Large cornices plague the lee side of most exposed ridgelines.
Avalanche
Information relayed to me earlier about natural activity near Taylor Peak, uncertain but these likely ran 3/24-25?. A large avalanche on a northeast-facing slope above treeline initiated on persistent weak layer near the surface and broke into deeper layers below the cliffband. Another avalanche upridge broke on the layer near the surface but did not step down.