Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Nov 1, 2023 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Scattered clouds and temperatures in the 20s. Winds were light until I ascended the ridge at the head of the drainage where they were moderate from the northwest.
Snowpack
The snowpack is generally thin and discontinuous. North and east aspects above treeline were the only areas with continuous rideable snow. The effect of recent higher winds was apparent from a distance on north aspects. Winds at the ridgetop were moderate from the northwest and in wind-affected areas, the top 10-20cm of snow were one-finger on the Hand Hardness Scale resting on four-finger snow. An Extended Column Test (ECT) had a propagating result after one tap from the wrist on this interface. In other places, there was no slab; boot and ski penetration were to the ground. Below the ridgeline, the wind was light in this area. Warm temperatures and ample sunshine made the snow on southerly aspects moist by the afternoon. The old snow from earlier in October was capped by a melt-freeze crust and was beginning the transition into larger faceted grains. I did not get any results in snowpit tests at the interface of the older October snow and the most recent storm snow.