Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Michael Tranovich · May 8, 2021 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Variable. Partially cloudy with light winds initially. Increasingly overcast followed by wind gusts and large wet flakes/ graupel approaching dusk.

Snowpack

Did not dig. S and W aspects around 11900ft with a dusting of graupel over a partially frozen crust. Earlier sun exposed areas ski penetration through the crust into partially frozen soft layer below, ski penetration on these aspects ~6-10" in localized areas. Crust was generally supportable to skis on NNE aspects below ridge near 12000ft. I jumped several times on a few steep very small wind crusted rollovers on NE aspect below ridge. They did not budge and only cracking around skis.

Avalanche

At least 3, natural small R1D1 loose snow avalanches from the cliffs ~12500- 12800ft in Tractor Bowl, Northstar Mountain (NE to E aspects). Observed in the late afternoon/ evening on 5/8. Traveled similar route, similar time, past couple days and did not observe them. Likely occurred later morning, early afternoon 5/8. Sorry for the poor photo, light was flat. Photo is of small loose avy from more NE facing aspect of Tractor Bowl. Others were on more E face.