Vail & Summit County
AvalancheKreston Rohrig · Jan 9, 2020 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Surprisingly calm at ridgetop with only a slight westerly breeze. Clouds were building into the early afternoon as the next storm approached.
Snowpack
We dug in multiple locations and found a mixed bag depending on wind-load. On a northeast slope near treeline just below a lee-ward ridge I was surprised to find very little evidence of wind-transported snow and a weak snowpack from top to bottom. This was a very similar structure to what I've seen in other parts of the zone in protected near and below treeline terrain. There is a little bit of new snow sitting on weak facets over a weakening 4 finger slab with larger fist facets at the ground. HS ranged from 90-110cm generally. Fairly safe at the moment without a slab, but not a great setup if we ever get a big load of snow. In other areas where recent winds had actually formed denser slabs, the snowpack was still variable. On a wind-loaded northeast-facing shoulder, hard slabs were stacked on top of each other, sandwiching thinner layers of facets. The slabs only extended down slope 50' or so and are very isolated and rock hard/stubborn.
Avalanche
Only one recent avalanche was observed and it was a long distance away. It looked to be a small wind slab triggered by cornice fall on a east-facing above treeline face.