Vail & Summit County
AvalancheScott Toepfer · Mar 26, 2017 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
West side of the Continental Divide stayed obscured to overcast most of the day. The east side of the Continental Divide was partly cloudy. West side of the Divide generally only intermittent light snow, but occasional short lived stronger convective pulses. About 1" accumulation during the day. Settling as fast as it fell. Winds at 11,400 feet were strong enough to erode and drift snow (Loading south aspects) Snow showers were still on going at 6 PM
Snowpack
Recent north winds have been strong enough to erode recent 6" of new snow into a wind slab on southerly aspects, near and above treeline. When I had visibility it was easy to see where the wind slab was due to color differences in the snow. There was a very defined line between the new white wind drifted snow, and the old melt/freeze crust snow.
Avalanche
About a mile away with marginal visibility at best