Aspen
AvalancheBrandon Levy · Mar 1, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
Clear, relatively calm, and warm. Occasional southerly or southeasterly light gusts. When I arrived at 0845 there was roughly a 15 degree valley inversion in place with the Crystal Valley in the teens and mid to upper twenties already at the road summit. The temperature rapidly warmed to above freezing before I reached the profile location.
Snowpack
The snowpack was supportive with ski penetration only 10-15cms once off the Ragged Mountain road. The snow received between February 22nd and February 26th has settled--and melted--to about 45cms. The near-surface faceted grain buried on February 16th around McClure Pass are still the layer of concern and appear to have been wetted as the grains were dry to moist. An extended column test failed after 17 taps on this layer (ECTP 17 down 50cms on FCsf size 2mm). Below this layer the older snow mainly from the holiday storm is strong and the basal facets have rounded and gained resistance.
Avalanche
Aside from the avalanches during the storm which were predominantly below the typical inversion, there was a recent natural slab avalanche in Lone Tree Bowl. This avalanche likely occurred yesterday (February 28th, 2022). I believe it was a wet slab and resulted from water reaching the near-surface faceted grains combined with settlement of the recent storm snow.--Avalanches are coded in the GIS