Aspen
AvalancheJewel Campbell · Jan 17, 2024 · Aspen
Weather
Overcast and snowing a few centimeters an hour all day. Accumulation was about 20 cm by late afternoon and snow stopped by 6pm. Winds were strong near and above treeline in exposed areas and snow was being transported on the ground to the east. Falling snow was also blowing to the east.
Snowpack
There were widespread rumbling collapses below tree line in the flats and woods. I could see the collapses traveling through the forest, shaking the snow off of trees. Cornices and wind drifts were forming anywhere not sheltered by forest. Collapses became more isolated as I moved near tree line, but were loud and dropped a few centimeters. Above tree line the snow was being wind-transported quickly and packed into hard drifts and slabs. I did not experience collapses above tree line, but an extended column test had moderate propagating results. In general I found the snowpack to be touchy and loaded with new snow. I was on low-angle terrain all day, but I believe any slope steep enough to avalanche, would with the slightest trigger. My above tree line snow profile revealed a bit of soft new snow, sitting on top of a hard slab about 15cm thick. Under the slab a loose layer of facets, sandwiched by two crusts sat on top of 50 cm of well-developed depth hoar. It was a quite hard slab, atop a quite soft base. The height of snow varied from 60-90cm, with a much softer slab near and below tree line, than the one I found up high.
Avalanche
The day was overcast with very low clouds making observations difficult, but I saw a small D1 on a slope above the Reudi road similar to what we are seeing along most steep roads in the central mountains.