Vail & Summit County
SnowpackJeremy Primmer · Apr 1, 2022 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Warmer temperatures than expected, the cloud cover did not move in until after 5pm.
Snowpack
At the trailhead I found more snow coverage than expected and was able to skin from the car. In the morning all easterly and southerly slopes below treeline had a supportable to skis 2cm refreeze crust. The crust was supportable to boots in most spots but near trees or buried objects the boot penetration was to the ground. Under the crust the snow was wet and unsupportable to the ground. The skies stayed clear with warm temps and the melt freeze crust broke down around 2 below treeline and on southerlies near treeline and loose wet avlanches became a concern. Wrapping around to a east by northeast facing slope near the treeline I found a much more wintery snowpack. I found 220cm of snow with 15cm of new snow sitting on a supportable but thinner 1cm melt-freeze crust. Only 15cm of snow under the crust was moist and I got a propagating result in an ECT with hard force on the mid-winter dry spell facets.