Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Eric Haskell · Dec 18, 2020 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Overcast in am with very light snow, clearing midday, increasing cloud cover with light snow in afternoon. Light N winds at tree line and above, no drifting snow.

Snowpack

HS ~50cm +/-, snow drifts 155cm at tree line on east face. Weak snow without much structure except on some crusts in snowpack on solar faces and wind slabs NE-E-SE near and above tree line. Dug ENE aspect 11,600’ near ridge line with previous loading line - new snow ontop of facets with some depth hoar starting to develop at base. HS 80cm. PST 12/100 end at 37cm on 2mm facets. Dug on ESE slope 11,600 ft near ridge line with previous loading. Similar aspect and elevation to remote slide. HS 93cm. New snow on multiple crust sand which’s with facets. PST 17/100 end at 64 cm, crust/facet interface. Whoomphs and cracking west, east and northeast aspects near ridge line.

Avalanche

11,800’ ESE slope 35 degrees skier remote triggered soft slab from 30M away - ~40cm x 30M x 60M, failure in old snow. 3 propagating 1.5x3M slabs on steep rolls at 11,800’ W face, failing at ground.