Aspen

Snowpack

Brian McCall Brad Sawtell · Jan 5, 2011 · Aspen

Weather

Overcast skies.Cool temperatures and moderate west and southwest winds at treeline. Light snow, S-1, began around 1 pm.

Snowpack

This region had a generally shallow and weaker snowpack than the rest of the Aspen zone. Profile near treeline on a NW aspect showed snowpack depths just over 1 meter. Surface facet layer was present in the upper snowpack, 15 cm below the surface. Low density snow on top of this weak layer did not propagate in ECT's at profile site at 11,500 ft. CT's failed with moderate Q2 results. Slightly stronger mid pack was mostly supportive to uphill and down hill travel though skis would occasional break through to lower snowpack weak layers in isolated areas. Lower snowpack made up of well developed 3mm facets and depth hoar. This area contained the weakest basal layer I have seen in any areas of the zone.