Vail & Summit County
AvalancheTyler Rudd · Jan 9, 2022 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
It was a very cold morning. -4 when we left the truck at the main Vail Pass parking lot. There were zero clouds in the ski, with just the slightest of breeze. The day warmed up as the time went on. By the time we got to the top of our line, it was 10:30am, with a temperature of around 10-15 degrees. We dropped and went back for a second lap. This time we reached the summit around 12:00pm and temperature was closer to 20-25 degrees with the sun out in full force.
Snowpack
We dug a hasty pit. The total snowpack at our drop in was about 80-100cms. Top 40-50 cm was fresh recent snow. Then about 5cm of sugar and the final 40-50cm was a solid brick of snow and ice.
Avalanche
After dropping the first time, my partner and I went back up for a second lap. I dropped in and once I reached the bottom of our line, I noticed a avalanche still falling about 300 yards to the south of our line on a steeper rocky face below the main summit of Uneva.