Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Scott Toepfer · Feb 28, 2011 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Mostly clear. A few lenticulars formed during the day. Vicious winds. Got knocked over a half dozen times as we neared 12k. It was fairly warm so could easily avoid frost bite if you kept your face covered

Snowpack

Snow was settling fast on the southerly aspect. CT's on SE aspects near treeline were scoring moderate 14-16s with Q1 shears about a foot deep. Two other Q1 shears a few inches deeper. East aspects were seeing intense wind loading. We noted 12 SSNCR2D1.5's on steep east aspects. Hard to see verticals as the blowing snow obscured visibility above about 11,500. Crowns were all about 1 foot deep. There were two WLNR2D2 on east aspects noted on our exit out. these ran on E aspects below treeline