Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Apr 4, 2016 · Aspen

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Weather

Warmed quickly. Breezy at times on ridge, w winds swirling. Generally SW ~10 mph w gusts ~15 mph. Little to no wind below ridgeline. Few clouds filled to scattered.

Snowpack

An early spring snowpack - not consolidated or isothermal. Wet/ refrozen on surface. Top ~30 cm = moist near-surface snow sandwiched by 10-15 cm wet snow above and P hard crust below. A good structure for widespread & larger LWa if warm temps & sun continued. A few small patches of dust showing at surface on steep, S-facing slopes BTL.

Avalanche

Several recent Loose Wet avalanches from ridge, one ran quite far. Mostly running on 3/22 dust/ crust. Ski cuts and turns on slopes >35* released some large but slow-moving roller balls/ pinwheels in near-treeline elevation band. LWa possible on these slopes.