Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Apr 29, 2014 · Aspen

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Weather

HS 60 cm at Landry plot. HST 12-14" at ~ 10800'. Hard to be certain due to winds - drifting in tracks within hours. Large drifts in unusual places along ascent route. Skies alternately broken and obscured. Report of moderately intense snowfall late afternoon w more strong gusty winds. Sun had not affected snow surface on easterly aspects > 10000' by early afternoon.

Snowpack

6-14" storm snow depending on elevation, with some shallower spots due to scouring and lots of cakier drifts. Soft (4F) wind slabs up to 24" thick near ridgeline. Some layering in these. One clean shear ~ midway down, anotehr ~ 3' above refrozen old snow surface. Didn't probe/ dig deeper than that.

Avalanche

During several breaks in clouds got ok look at surrounding terrain and didnt see any slides.