Aspen

Snowpack

Sean Smollen Jared Berman · Dec 15, 2020 · Aspen

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Weather

Variable sky cover throughout day with light snow (S-1) at 13:00. Air temperature was 32 degrees Fahrenheit at 10,000ft at 11:00. Yesterdays precipitation yielded 6" of new snow in areas without wind.

Snowpack

While touring along ridge of Bears Gulch (9,800-10,200ft), frequent collapsing, whumphing, and shooting cracks were observed on all aspects between N-SE. Test pit was dug on a NE aspect at 10,000ft at 13:30. Pit had obvious strong over weak characteristics with a 1F/4F wind-packed slab resting on-top of well developed depth hoar. Results were spooky with an ECTPV, ECTP4, ECTP7, and a PSTsf 19/100. ECTPV broke while only 3/4 of the column was isolated. PST broke at 19cm and travelled ~50cm up the column where it fractured vertically through the overlying slab. All tests failed on the 20201210 interface.