Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Christine Avena · Dec 14, 2014 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

The storm system brought light, low moisture content snow starting at 8:30 PM and continuing overnight, dropping about 5 inches by early morning. Storm accompanied by low but constant wind, approx. 5-10 mph. At the time the pit was dug (10:45 AM), snow was continuing to accumulate but storm was weakening. Total new storm snow of about 6 inches. Temperature at the time of measurement was 10*F.

Snowpack

Snowpack on a SW, windward aspect at treeline measured 72 cm. Of this, approximately 10 cm was new snow that was bonded poorly to an old melt-freeze layer about 3 cm thick. This melt-freeze crust was ice hard and covered approximately 50 cm of old, consolidated snow from the Thanksgiving week storms. Faceted snow was found on the bottom of this layer, closest to the ground. A CT showed a slight storm slab forming on the upper layer, but a sudden planer fracture occurred at the ground @ CT22.

Avalanche

No natural or triggered avalanches seen during our tour.