Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Above treeline Northeast facing slopes snowpack depth varied from 40cm with no slab to over 140cm deep. In deeper areas there was a weak layer about 25cm down and then strong midpack down to the basal weakness about 130cm below the surface. The higher I traveled on the slope the shallower the snowpack. Most snow surfaces above treeline are stripped down to a firm wind board. Facets that may have formed above treeline have been mostly blown away. Near treeline NW slope had a weak base and another weak layer about 10cm below the surface that could be our weak layer for the new storm. Southfacing slopes were very firm with up to 5cm suncrust in some areas near and below treeline. In shady BTL slopes there was about 30cm of soft unconsolidated mostly faceted snow at the surface with about 70 to 90cm total depth. The layer to watch with the next storm will be the one about 10 to 15cm below the surface made up of facets. The slab above was not strong enough to propagate today but had very little bonding when the layer was isolated.