Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Robert Coppolillo · Jan 9, 2015 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Light-moderate NW-N winds at ridgetop, ambient temps W, N, E aspects high teens, but fine in the shade. Pleasant below treeline, hood up and gusty at ridge top--but lightly dressed.

Snowpack

Widespread 1cm surface hoar, W, NW, N, NE, E aspects. Winds definitely knocking it down , but discontinuously as you descended towards treeline. Some solar beatdown, too, but it's patchy and widespread---a few inches on it and things will get interesting. Fast skiing, sloughs very fast moving.

Avalanche

Minor loose-wet avalanches on SW-W aspects, 40 degrees, canted up towards the sun. Definitely some mass in them, could knock you down...but nothing major in the last 72 hours in terms of slab avalanches. Saw a couple guys ski east-facing 40+ degree shots right off the ridge, tons of trigger points, steep terrain....and nada. Not sure the snowpack gave 'em the right feedback.