Aspen
AvalancheBrian Lazar · Dec 16, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
COLD! Calm and mostly sunny with a moderate southerly wind in this localized area.
Snowpack
Lots of wind-affected slopes now with most wind damaged on northerly slopes, but signs of variable winds and various wind-drifted slabs from thin wind skins to 1 foot thick P-hard slabs. Weak layers of concern now buried 100-120cm deep in most places. Snowpack is generally quiet without cracking or collapsing, until you trigger an avalanche.
Avalanche
A fresh avalanche ran between 11am and 1pm on a northeast-facing slope just below ridgeline on a slope locally referred to as Tsunami. This avalanche was likely remotely triggered by skier skinning up the ridge lookers left of the slide. This slope avalanched once on November 30, and this is second time it broke near the ground, so this is more representative of shallower snowpack areas further east. But, it's also a solid reminder that slopes that previously avalanched are more susceptible to human triggering in deeper snowpack regions. If you don't know the avalanche history of the slopes your travelling on, give yourselves extra buffers around steep slopes.