Aspen
AvalancheBrian Lazar · Apr 27, 2018 · Aspen
Weather
Blue bird and warm. Calm lower down most of the day, with periodic breezy conditions above 11,000 ft. Sustained moderate westerly winds along ridgeline.
Snowpack
The last several days of melt-freeze cycle has really transitioned the snowpack to more mature springtime conditions. The surface freeze is stout, and a supportable surface crust is around 8 inches thick in most places. This crust is supportable even by mid to late afternoon, though the top several inches of snow are getting slushy by afternoon on low elevation and sunny slopes. Basal weak layers still exist on high-elevation slopes, though they are showing pronounced signs of strengthening. Triggering an avalanche breaking on deep basal weak layers is unlikely except in isolated shallow, steep,rocky terrain. The MOST concerning hazard are the cornices. Some of these are large and overhanging, and some small crevasses along ridgelines are showing. Any ridgeline travel should give cornices a wide berth.
Avalanche
Loose Wet avalanches seem to be releasing each warm, sunny afternoon out of steep rocky terrain facing east and south. None of these are very large nor gouging to the ground, but are big enough to injure a person or possibly bury you if shoved into a terrain trap. Wet Slab avalanches out of similar terrain are possible each warm sunny afternoon.