Aspen
AvalancheSean Smollen Jared Berman · Jan 2, 2021 · Aspen
Weather
Crisp air temp at -15 degrees celsius shaded in the pit at 12,600' on a NE aspect. Winds were light with strong gusts from the NW at ridge line. Moderate snow transport was observed with incoming gusts. Sky was Scattered throughout the day.
Snowpack
Surface hoar rampant this morning everywhere protected BTL. In the snow pit (NE, 12,628') a large, cohesive, fragmented/ wind-packed slab sat on top of facets that made for an obvious strong over weak combination. Below the facets a very smooth melt freeze crust created an ideal bed surface. Depth hoar resided below the crust and was well striated and large (4-8mm) with some depth hoar chains noted. ECTP17 failed on facets above melt freeze (@19cm).
Avalanche
One SS-U-R1-D1, below tree line on a SE aspect observed on the way out of the West Willow basin. Approximately 5m width of crown by 12m length to toe of debris , with an average 50cm crown. Slope angle was right at 30 degrees in the start zone. Bed surface was old snow/ depth hoar interface. Trigger was tricky... pinwheels were noted in the near vicinity as well as many shooting cracks traveling up the slope. Animal tracks were also very close to lookers right flank, but appeared older than the avalanche. The nearest ski track was the egress route on a NW slope directly across the drainage, but cracks did not seem to originate from there either. May have been ASr or N, but not enough evidence was observed to prove either case.