Aspen

Snowpack

This region of the Aspen zone has one of the shallower and weaker snowpacks in the forecast area. At elevations between 11,200 ft and 11,400 ft, snowpack depths averaged only around 40-50 cm. The vast majority of it consisted of 3-4 mm depth hoar grains on both east and west aspects. Near treeline elevations, the only recent wind effects were from easterly winds last week. Found small pockets of wind slabs on westerly aspects that were shallow and confined to near ridge top areas. Slopes facing slightly southeast or southwest had a thin melt freeze crust at the snow surface from mild temperatures and strong radiation during the last few days. On east facing slopes below treeline, ski cuts on short test slopes produced some slow moving D1 facet sluffs. These could approach D2 in size on open slopes 40 degrees or steeper.