Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Michael Tranovich · May 16, 2022 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Sunny with occasional clouds. 50s. Some wind gusts from the W at times

Snowpack

Lacking any real continuous coverage below 12200 feet. Scattered drifts in the shade. Snow becoming discontinuous and thin at higher elevations along the upper ridge. Boot penetration at 12k ft on patchy snow was to the thigh. Higher elevations were supportable to skis even in the afternoon though.

Avalanche

Wet loose avalanches on E and NE facing Clinton Peak viewed from SE ridge of Northstar Mtn on 5/14. No slides were seen on Northstar, including Northstars steep amphitheater despite multiple ski/board tracks on NE and E aspects. Remaining cornices on Northstar looking quite droopy.