Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Nov 25, 2014 · Aspen

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Weather

S-1 showers most of day alternating w a few breaks or bursts of higher intensity. Winds gusty below treeline and moving snow rapidly enough to fill in skin track. Oddly, less transport at top of bowl. Hard to tell HN24 - lots of low density snow near surface, w little distinct layering. Looks like 18cm settled storm snow @ 9000' since 11/22.

Snowpack

Below treeline, snowpack consists of November snow in most locations. Base of this snow is already faceting; grains are fine and moist. Near treeline, snowpack is soft slab increasing in hardness w depth; this soft slab sits on rounding facets. Some thin wind slabs on exposed ribs and knolls, mostly below treeline.

Avalanche

6 D1 WS avalanches. 5 triggered w ski cuts or stomping on pillows; 1 natural. Slab thickness 3-25 cm; width 2-5 m; ran 3-5 m. All but 1 BTL.