Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Brad Sawtell · Jan 21, 2011 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Temps in the low 20's, high teens. Steady moderate W /NW winds. LOTS of snow transport.

Snowpack

Despite all of the wind and loading, I was still able to find the dreaded buried surface hoar layer a foot to 18 inches below the snow surface on SW-W-WNW aspects near and slightly above tree line. This layer proved to produce fracture at ECTP8 to 12, Q1's. CT's were 3 to 9 taps from the wrist. The surface hoar is up to 1cm thick.