Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Tim Walsh Scott Toepfer · May 20, 2016 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Temp & wind from Loveland Pass Wx station. My truck thermometer said 52F at 11:30 on Hwy 6 below the 7 Sisters. High thin clouds, close to overcast but scattered patches of blue. Southerly winds at ridgelines helping keep snow surface coolish, but still pretty warm & these temperatures are impacting the snowpack.

Snowpack

Not much of a freeze Friday night. Snowpack was just barely supportable around the Eisenhower Tunnel area at 10 AM, E and NE aspects near and above treeline.

Avalanche

Natural R2-D2 out of Middle 'Y'. Natural R1-D1 out of North 'Y'. Natural R1-D0.5 out of Associate 'Y'. Looks like they started as Wet Loose and then propagated into Wet Slab avalanches. Happened sometime after ski patrol sweep Friday May 20 or before opening on Saturday May 21(5/21). 2 Small WLNR1D0.5's on West aspect near treeline above West Portal Ike Tunnel. 1 wet slide, maybe out of Narrow & Nasty, in Marjorie Bowl SW aspect above treeline, on south side of Loveland Pass, but I am not sure what date this may have run. Could not see start zone, but debris entrained some dirt.