Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Robert Coppolillo · Jan 17, 2018 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

W aspects up to 11,200, intense solar, but still cold (low 20s) in the shade. Calm winds.

Snowpack

Huge rumbling collapse/shooting crack, w aspect below steeper (stripped, bare) terrain at approx 11,100. 250'x100' whumpf with impressive shooting crack. (See photo) Lower 40cm of snowpack is 5mm-8mm depth hoar, then 4F up to F, avg 80cm W/NW aspects at TL and BTL in sheltered areas. Anywhere exposed to the wind has significantly less snow. 90cm HS pit on a NW micro-feature, ECTP16 55cm down on what seemed to be a rotten crust just above where depth hoar begins. 25-degree slope, 10,780', sheltered area in gladed trees. CTM x2 on same layer.

Avalanche

Obvious debris in the E/SE-facing bowl beneath Machine Gun Ridge. Viewed from across valley, size 2, no clue on trigger, but definitely chunky debris (cornice fall?).