Aspen
AvalancheJacob Dalbey · Jan 8, 2019 · Aspen
Weather
20-25 degrees, little to no wind, overall blue skies with intermittent could cover
Snowpack
90 Azi at 11,200' 34 degree slope angle. Pit profile showed HS @ 245cm. starting at the ground 0-40cm obvious depth hoar. 40-150cm 1f mid pack slab. 150-170cm 4f NSF? didnt seem well developed. 170-180cm fist hard surface hoar layer was well developed (see pictures). 180-210 4f heavier storm snow with 210-245 lighter fist hard storm snow. ECT18 initially failed at surface hoar interface and then ECTP22 propagated across column at surface hoar interface. Sudden collapse but not planar. Continued wrenching on mid pack slab and could not get any other movement. Stepping up above skin track in numerous spots would cause minor cracking and some slab movement. Skin pen was roughly 6-8" and boot pen was knee high.
Avalanche
Uncountable natural avalanches were observed on NW-SE and mainly near and above treeline. ATL avalanches were quite impressive in size even from a distance. Glassing around with the binoculars I saw more than a dozen naturals. Seems like the majority was on east facing and again within the storm snow. There was a massive slide on the NW face near the top of the nipple. I’d estimate the crown at 4-5’. The blob also had a NW slide that looked similar but filled in partially. Almost every one of the alleys had slides in the. Tsunami and 1/2 bowl (what we call them) slid 1000’ + to the bench (but within storm snow). Middle bowl ESE aspect slid but within storm snow. Di’s bowl ESE same. The chutes off mud peak slid and appeared to be triggered by cornice fall but stayed in storm snow. Raspberry peak slid ~500’ probably from cornice fall. SE aspect off the back of ragged peak slid big as well. May have gone to the ground?NW ridge line off justice appeared to sluff didn’t look big though. As you’re looking WSW from Marble peak all the ridge lines back there had slides on them. Waayyy to many to count. Like the ridge lines due south of ragged peak