Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Robert Coppolillo · Jan 18, 2018 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Col NW of Uneva summit, 14:00, 12,000, calm wind, bright sun...

Snowpack

ECTX just onto NE aspect off col into North Tenmile Drainage, 22-degree slope, HS 105cm. 5cm F hardness snow to 4F to 1F to P down to chained depth hoar 30cm (4F) to 5cm of F hardness depth hoar at ground. 150'x150' whumpf W aspect, 11,200ft, 27-degree terrain, rumbling and spooky. Several more collapses throughout day---general snowpack structure terrible!

Avalanche

Size 2 off rocky, steep (40+ degrees) terrain just north along ridgeline from col, 12,000 ft, east-facing aspect, rocky, wind loaded. Chundery, sun-affected debris, ran 250ft vertical into meadow below. Initiated in rocks in unskiable terrain, couldn't quite see actual start so potentially loose wet (?) but triggered slab below.