Aspen
AvalancheDylan Craaybeek · Dec 24, 2021 · Aspen
Weather
35F, Calm, and Light rain at the base of Buttermilk at 8:30 AM. Precipitation turned from light rain, to mixed snow and rain, to Moderate wind and snow on the chairlift ride from 7,900 ft. to 9,700 ft. Snowfall varied from S2 to S5 throughout the day above 9,000ft. with precipitation intensity peaking just before noon. Light to Moderate winds with some strong gusts from the southwest all morning switching to west/northwest after noon. Moderate snow transport all day and temperature dropped steadily as the day progressed.
Snowpack
20-40cm of new snow and HS varying from 60cm to 100cm between 9,000 and 10,000ft. on northerly aspects. From the time I left my truck at 8:30 AM in the rain to 3:00 PM, 17cm of 9% density snow accumulated on the truck. Northerly slopes below the treeline had consistent localized collapsing and shooting cracks failing on basal facets. On northwest facing slopes between 30-36 degrees I triggered shooting cracks that did not avalanche. Snowpack tests indicate two possible layers of failure for avalanches on northerly aspects, the old snow surface and the interface between the buried surface hoar and the well developed facets underneath. The snowpack is dangerous right now and avalanches will be easy to trigger for the next couple of days.
Avalanche
Two intentionally triggered small Loose avalanches on a short and steep northwest facing slope.