Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Jan 14, 2018 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

Very windy day especially above treeline. Even with the strong winds there was not very effective wind loading as most windward slope have little snow to transport. The strong winds are not loading slopes but are hardening pre-existing slabs on easterly slopes

Snowpack

We experienced some collapsing but not widespread and no large area, rumbling, collapses. On sheltered northerly slopes up to about 11,200 feet the snowpack is barely supportable to skis. Below-treeline areas were sensitive during the last storm, and will be again as they are loaded, but for now there is not enough of a cohesive slab unless you find a wind-drifted area. Near-treeline areas, especially near ridgetop are most concerning still. In one area that I dug, the mid-pack faceted layers had gained strength and the most concerning layer was the top of the depth hoar layer. Non wind-affected near treeline areas are variable as far as if there is enough of a slab over top of the fair to poor structure. Any easterly wind-drifted slope near treeline definitely has all the ingredients for large avalanches. Sensitivity has decreased though and with hard wind-drifted slabs over top of weak snow these areas will be stubborn to trigger. Above treeline slopes still do not have widespread snow distribution as past and present wind wreak havoc on the snow coverage. Due north ATL slopes are very thin and rocky. Large avalanches above treeline are still possible on easterly slopes that haven't been stripped.