Aspen

Snowpack

Recent storm snow in this area has settled to about 20 cm at the trailhead and 30-35 cm at 11,000f ft. This recent storm snow layer sat on a thin melt freeze crust on all aspects traveled on today, including northeast. Snow seemed well bonded to this crust, but an older layer of surface facets 10 cm below the crust produced Q1 shears in compression tests and propagation on ECT's with moderate results. This interface was about 50-60 cm below the surface in all test profiles. Northwest winds increased around 3pm today above treeline. Blowing snow appears to have triggered a cycle of natural avalanches on southerly aspects of Mt Daly and Elk Mountain. This cycle occurred at 2:55 pm and we witnessed three of these naturals run (from a safe location!) on Mount Daly. The largest occurred on a southeast aspect near treeline. It ran full track to the valley floor in North Lost Trail Creek. When the debris reached the creek, it triggered another avalanche on the opposite side of the valley on Arkansas Mtn on a northwest aspect below treeline.