Aspen

Avalanche

Ethan Davis · Feb 4, 2014 · Aspen

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Weather

Moderate to heavy snowfall throughout the day. 5 inches in less than 5 hours while out on our tour. Overcast for the most part with a couple small breaks of blue. Temperature was -12C at 11,000 ft. Toured primarily easterly aspects between 9,000 and 11,000 ft.

Snowpack

Upper 100 cm (F-4F) was settled storm snow and new snow beginning Tuesday, January 28th. Prominent Storm Slab instability down 25 cm. Test pit at 11,000 ft on a ESE (120 deg) slope 200 feet below ridge line. Snowpack depth of 275 to 300 cm. Warmer temperatures created a thin rain crust on January 29th, now 80 cm down. This crust was more pronounced and nearer the surface as elevation decreased. Subtle density differences in the upper 60 cm of storm snow. Sunday, February 2nd saw sun and clear skies into early morning Monday. This (Feb 3rd) interface (down 25 cm) was the most reactive layer. CTE3 down 25 (Q2, RP), CTM15 down 55 (Q2, RP), DTH27 down 100 (Q2, RP).

Avalanche

Three remotely triggered, unintentional soft slab avalanches ran 25 cm deep on the Feb 3rd interface.