Aspen

Avalanche

Dayton Knutson · Jan 17, 2023 · Aspen

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Weather

Snow starting on Sunday afternoon, light winds. Monday snow continued heavily with periods of intense wind gusts. 11,000 feet mostly North facing terrain.

Snowpack

Snowpack becomes much deeper (1-1.5 meters) above 10,000 feet on North aspects. Weak layer of old snow encountered around .3 meters, and snow above that 1F trending to 4F/F at snow surface.

Avalanche

Large shooting crack observed in new snow, no propagation on slope steeper than 30 degrees. Sluff from cornice fall/wind loading observed on "backyard" slope. Other group heard avalanches running naturally in area.