Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Jan 3, 2023 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
S-1 snow when we arrived became S1 by the time we left with a few heavier squalls. No significant accumulation during the day. Single digit temperatures with moderate westerly winds.
Snowpack
Snowpack was generally supportable to uphill travel and I only broke into basal facets in a few shallow and obviously weak places like willows and the creekbed. Snow cover has increased at near treeline elevations on westerly slopes, but above treeline westerly slopes only have bulbous, isolated cross-loaded drifts. No signs of instability while we traveled, but we did gave any steep slopes a wide berth. The snowpack generally had about 30cm of snow from the NYE storm cycle above an older slab that was pencil to one-finger hard resting on facets to the ground. Extended Column Test results were easy and propagating at the facet interface. Propagation Saw Test had a fracture to end after a cut of 24cm at this interface. The mid-pack slab was supportable to skis as we exited.