Aspen
AvalancheMatt Huber · Dec 23, 2020 · Aspen
Weather
Cold with northwest winds making it feel even colder. Very light snow during the trip with very little accumulation. Obvious signs of previous winds and drifting but only light loading was seen during the trip.
Snowpack
I dug on a west-facing slope below treeline between the Ghost town of Independence and Lower Lost Man. On a small, no consequence slope, shooting cracks and collapse occurred immediately after I left the previously traveled roadway. These all are failing on 3-5mm depth hoar but only reactive if the snowdepth is 50-75 cm or greater, where the recent snowfall has created enough of a slab. Traveled very conservatively based on how reactive the snowpack was.
Avalanche
Visibility was poor, only one avalanche could be seen on the west side of the pass near Independence mountain on a northeast-facing slope above treeline