Aspen

Avalanche

Joshua Vogt · Jan 31, 2021 · Aspen

Weather

Beautiful. No to light winds, sunny, single digits early am (6deg @ 8am @ 8000') warming significantly as the day went on.

Snowpack

On Raspberry ridge proper, the past wind loading has made snow depth highly variable. Approaching the eastern slopes from the ridge is a scary proposition with the cornice formation being developed. Several whumps still heard when getting off the defined skin track. Little cracking observed; but still got some in the new snow.

Avalanche

Much to look at from the last storm cycle. BTL, NTL, ATL. Northerly aspects through east to south aspects. Size ranges from small to large. Much activity in the head of N anthracite creek and on Ragged Mtn/spud pass area. I didn't get a good view of it, but the similarly SE facing ridge to the west of CMH slid too. By late am, point releases observed in steep E facing terrain in Mud Gulch and by early afternoon, point releases were running long distances on S facing slopes on Mt Daly north of town. Also observed a large slab avalanche broke (along with smaller avalanches) on Elk Mtn ridge west of Mt Daly in carbonate creek. See attached photos