Aspen
SnowpackDylan Craaybeek · Dec 28, 2021 · Grand Mesa
Weather
Trailhead at 9:00 AM was 18F, Light winds, and S2 precipitation rate. Continuous light snowfall throughout the day today with Moderate southwest winds and Moderate snow transport near treeline.
Snowpack
North to east through southeast aspects had an average HS of 80-100cm with wind loaded terrain features holding closer to 150cm. The snowpack consisted of around 30-40cm of F to 4F precipitation particles and decomposing fragmented particles over 30-40cm of 4F to 1F hard slabs of rounds and decomposing fragmented particles over 20-30cm of F hard, well-developed facets and depth-hoar. The Dec. 7th buried surface hoar is still there but it is no longer reactive. Average ski pen was 30-40cm. Some localized shooting cracks and collapsing but less than expected. Extended column tests showed propagating failure on a layer of buried FCsf on top of the Dec. 10 storm slab.