Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Thomas White · Jan 30, 2015 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

1/27 Tuesday, 12:28pm: 55F/12C @ 10,500 feet (Ranch Creek trail), partly cloudy, wind calm, no precipitation 1/28 Wednesday, 12:00pm: 35F/2C @ 10,200 (Pearl Creek), overcast, wind calm, no precipitation 1/29 Thursday, 11:00am: 27F/-3C @ 10,200 (Pearl Creek), partly cloudy, wind calm, no precipitation

Snowpack

1/27 Tuesday: Widespread surface hoar 10-15mm near the trailhead and in open areas to 10,500 feet. At and above treeline on all aspects a thin 7-10mm crust of surface facets 3-5mm size. Quick pit on north aspect at 11,400 feet revealed a 10cm thick layer of depth hoar overlaid by 90 cm of layers comprised of mixed facet forms, all fist hardness with the thin layer of 1F hardness surface facets at the top. Foot penetration to ground. 1/28 Wednesday: HS on the north aspect 100cm above treeline, 50-60cm at and below treeline, 100cm in the creek valley. Various facet forms with no apparent slabs to be found except 7-10mm of near surface facets at and above treeline. Surface hoar scattered through open areas at the valley bottom. 1/29 Thursday: Ranch Creek trail (southwest-west aspect), Above treeline 100cm HS with thin 7-10mm layer of 3-5mm near surface facets over a completely faceted snowpack. Treeline and below treeline a 1cm melt freeze crust over a completely faceted snowpack.

Avalanche

No natural avalanches observed.