Aspen
AvalancheDylan Craaybeek, Brian Lazar · Mar 9, 2023 · Aspen
Weather
Warm day (31F at 10:00 at the Independence Pass Trailhead) warming to above-freezing temperatures above 10,000 feet by noon. Light westerly winds with occasional Moderate gusts but minimal snow transport along the ridgeline.
Snowpack
The average height of snow throughout Lincoln Creek was consistently less than 150cm often less than a meter deep in wind-sheltered areas with boot penetration to the ground but mostly supportable ski penetration. This contrast between ski and boot penetration alone is a good indicator of how weak the snowpack is here and how it will not take much to see dangerous avalanches. Extended column tests on northeasterly slopes show a thin layer of wind-packed particles at the top of the snowpack followed by facets or rounds with clear evidence of kinetic growth and large, well-developed depth hoar making up the bottom 30-50cm of the snowpack. Extended column tests show propagating failures in less than 10 taps failing on the depth hoar. Southerly slopes were all moist to wet at the snow surface developing new melt-freeze crusts throughout the day and westerly slopes above the treeline are wind-scoured to the ground unless they are cross-loaded, northwest-facing slopes.
Avalanche
Several old avalanches were observed on wind-loaded slopes all estimated to have occurred around March 4-6, 2023.