Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Connor McDonald · Apr 24, 2020 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

Mostly cloudy skies turned to broken clouds as the day progressed, periods of light snowfall, gusty winds out of the northwest above tree line. Short windows of sun did its part to warm south aspects near and above tree line.

Snowpack

A few inches of new snow overnight in town translated to roughly 8 inches above tree line, with deeper snow in wind loaded pockets. Some wind scouring down to the pre existing snow surface and rocks in places observed on windward slopes near ridge lines. A couple quick hand pits near and above tree line on east aspects showed the new snow bonded decently well to the existing snow surface, with higher density snow on the bottom of the new snow layer and lighter density snow near the surface. The new snow looked and felt to be right side up. While digging and pushing/kicking around with skis, I could not get much snow to move around. In wind loaded pockets I observed some shooting cracks and was able to get snow to move downslope.

Avalanche

Avalanche observed from across the drainage on the lower southeast face of Peak One, originating in the cliff band at about 12,000 ft elevation. Lots of loose wet sluffing was visible as well as one that fanned out into a loose wet slide. Looked to be enough to knock somebody off their feet. Avalanche was not present when I first entered the drainage, and must have occurred around 1 or 2pm.