Aspen
SnowpackBrian McCall · Jan 5, 2013 · Aspen
Weather
Mostly clear skies, calm to light west winds, and mild temperatures once we were above the valley inversion.
Snowpack
Very uniform snowpack on west and southwest aspects near and below treeline. HS average was 65 cm. Upper 10cm consisted of small surface facets and small surface hoar grains. Slightly larger surface hoar, up to 3mm, in shaded areas. 4F+mid pack made up of mixed forms. 10 cm thick MF crust on the ground. No results in extended column tests. Despite the strong radiation and mild temperatures, snowpack surface stayed dry all day on most slopes traveled on that faced south, southwest, and west. Just one small area of moist snow noticed below treeline on a steep southwest aspect. At treeline on a south aspect, found pockets of wind slabs up to 30cm thick in cross loaded areas on either side of the ridge we skinned up. They were the result of recent winds locally blowing from the west and east. No cracking or collapses noted in these wind loaded areas.