Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Jan 4, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Visibility was poor near ridgetop and it was hard to evaluate loading but intense loading is probably a safe bet. Below treeline there was very little wind. Snowfall today was very squally. It would snow at a rate of 2"/hr at times and then there were extended periods of very light snow.

Snowpack

Slopes that were not wind loaded showed few signs of slab development. The light snow was generally not cohesive and quick hand pits showed the new snow to just fall part in shear tests. Minor shallow cracking was noted but not at the new/old interface...Wind-loaded slopes are a bit different. I was not able to get near any steeper wind-loaded slopes but small test slopes showed thicker slabs developing and deeper cracking in the new snow. I would expect slabs up to 3 feet deep on near and above treeline northeast, east, and southeast slopes that would be easily triggered by a person.