Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Up at francies cabin near breck. Observed a natural avalanche to the north of the hut. It was on a south southeast aspect starting around 12k feet, running about 500-600 vertical. Crown was 3-5 feet deep. Soft slab, r-3, d 2.5-3. Ran near the ground and stepped down to the ground. There were 4 distinct crown lines making a total width of about 500 feet. Touring on south we observed many signs of instability where cross loading was evident. Cracks were propogating 5-7 feet. Some test slopes reacted with low energy but one larger slope fractured 1 foot deep and 20 feet wide.