Vail & Summit County
SnowpackJason Konigsberg · Apr 5, 2018 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Increasing clouds and wind throughout the day with warm temperatures.
Snowpack
Stability on southerly slopes near and below treeline is very good with almost a 12 inch crust on any open slope. On due south-facing slopes there is wet facets and depth hoar underneath of this thick crust. Although drainage channels aren't evident in this wet lower snowpack, the ground is wet and future melt-water will not be able to penetrate the 12 inch crust. The snowpack is freezing from the top down and is in good shape. On a southeast-facing slope, near-treeline, the basal weak layers are moist and it does not look as they have been hit by melt water yet. Frozen drainage channels were identified ending in a ice crust above the basal facets.---On a northeast-facing, near-treeline slope at approx 11,800, the snowpack is entirely dry. Easy, clean, shovel shears and moderate CT results on small faceted layers 15 and 35 cms down but ECT indicated lack of propagation propensity.