Aspen
AvalancheMatt Huber · Jan 14, 2020 · Gunnison
Weather
Temperatures rose quickly to the upper 20's by noon at 10,600 feet. Winds were strong enough for snow transport, below treeline, drifting was minimal and isolated, limited to open, exposed terrain. Most ridgelines were consistently flagged with blowing snow throughout the trip.
Snowpack
The total snowpack depth is just shy of two meters at 10,600 feet on a northeast aspect. 50 centimeters of recent storm snow rests on a thin (2 cm), pencil hard, wind affected layer with facets directly below. Extended column tests produce moderate, propagating results at the new/old snow interface. The midpack is relatively homogeneous, right side up and comprised of 4 finger to 1 finger hard layers of rounded .3-.5 mm crystals. Extended column test produced hard propagating results at 60 cm from the ground, the layer was unremarkable, with the exception of a hardness change from 4 finger to 1 finger.The basal depth hoar is rounding and moist.
Avalanche
Several natural avalanches observed above treeline on the southeast-facing slopes of Elk Mountain and Mount Daly(near Marble). On the east-facing slope of Mud Peak, a natural D2 released later in the storm, possibly overnight 1/13-14 with debris traveling to the low- angled bench 1000-1200 feet below.