Vail & Summit County
AvalancheReed Ryan · Feb 19, 2014 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Extreme W winds for 36 hours prior to avalanche. ~20" since last routes and skier compaction. ~2" of water in the same time period. Snow Data: In the past 21 days, we have received 71†snow and 6.77†H20 Since 2/6 (2 weeks), 42†snow and 3.77†H20 The past 7 days: 17†and 1.77†water, with strong and extreme West winds.
Snowpack
See crown profile on left flank/crown profile. Max crown height 230cm. Slide initiated on 4# airblast. Bed surface is a decomposing windcrust that in some places is on the ground, others its 10cms above the ground. At this location it was 50 cms from the ground. It is the same bed surface that Fremont 1 slid on 2/11/14, Taco 1/6/14, and Diamond Face/Fremont 1.5 (based upon a ski through the new path-no profile dug on Diamond/1.5, but this profile should be representative)
Avalanche
HS-AB-R3-D3-O/G Aspect: 30 deg. Elev: 12,200 ft