Vail & Summit County
AvalancheNathaniel Pearson · Feb 20, 2021 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Off and on bright sun, clouds, and blowing snow. Progressively more socked in as the day went on. Significant solar warming on S/SE aspect at times.
Snowpack
Recent storm snow on top of facets to the ground between 9k and ~10k. More highly layered snowpack varying in depth above 10k (facets still at the ground). Fully supportable wind slab above 12k on SE aspect and directly on ridge top.
Avalanche
Multiple small wind slab avalanches on nearby East facing slopes above 12k. All broke close to ridge lines below cornices and seemed to be natural. Timing unknown. Slightly larger avalanche observed on North facing slope just below 12k (photo attached). Seemed to be a wind slab that stepped down to the ground in places. A couple hundred feet across and ran a similar length. Seemed to trigger near exposed rocks halfway down slope. Again appeared to be natural, with no ski tracks observed into or out of slide. Timing unknown. Likely w/in last two days. There was also visible debris lower on slope - unclear whether connected to larger debris pile or from adjacent slopes.