Aspen
AvalancheGreg Shaffran · Nov 25, 2018 · Aspen
Weather
Very pleasant day for a tour weather wise (very light to calm winds, mild temps, scattered cloud cover), but the soft snow (ski penetration was approx. 40cm), cold snow, gentle terrain selection, and absence of any wax made the downhill travel difficult.
Snowpack
Snow height averaged 70cm. 20-30 cms of that was new snow from the most recent cycle, and the remaining 40-50 was old snow, with frozen melt-forms at the bottom in some places (typically in places sheltered from the wind, but exposed to the sun below TL). In hand pits along the way I was easily able distinguish the new/old snow interface, and often found a thin (1-2 inch) slightly stiffer layer just below that interface. In a snowpit later on (see attached photo) I found a line of facets above & below that thin/soft crust. We also experienced widespread rumbling collapses. One of the more exciting ones was when I was conducting a beacon search of a fresh debris pile. I didn't have a signal, but stepped onto the debris to investigate what I thought looked like it could have been a burial hole (it wasn't), and felt and heard a massive collapse that shook trees over 100' away.
Avalanche
Avalanches everywhere. Along they way to McFarlane's we remotely triggered one avalanche from 100+ feet away (Harris's Terrain Trap), conducted a beacon search of another debris pile on on a similar slope further south on the Ridge (Cardiac), and were in the process of photographing 2 skier triggered avalanches on Harris's Headwall when we watched a solo skier trigger a third avalanche next to the previous two avalanches.