Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

David Dellamora · Nov 18, 2013 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

calm and clear, 40's in the parking lot.

Snowpack

surface snow was trending moist below TL on solar aspects and settlement was rapid. dug a quick pit on ENE 20 degree slope near 11,500. HS 57cm: upper 15cm was the recent snow. the DF was resting on a paper thin MF that failed rather easily in sheer, compression and propagation. the mid-pack, resting on another MF at 23cm, was a mixed bag of rounds beginning to facet. 22cm to the ground were basal facets 2-4mm that collapsed suddenly under moderate weight. recent cross loading was widespread near tree line along north facing slopes of straight creek. likewise, a very small (D1-) cornice failure could be seen at the north end of the basin. pretty standard, the top heavy snowpack is weak in structure and rather sensitive.