Aspen
AvalancheBrandon Levy · Jan 8, 2021 · Aspen
Weather
Cold with an inversion in place and 2F at Ashcroft at 8am. Light occasional breeze from the north or northeast but generally calm below ridgelines with clear skies throughout the morning. Temperature warmed in the valleys with a jump to the high twenties at Ashcroft by noon.
Snowpack
Traveling on low angle east and southeast-facing slopes below and near treeline I observed several localized collapses and associated cracking. One notable rolling collapse also occurred on an east-facing slope near treeline. Ski penetration was generally 15cms; however, whenever traveling on more northerly terrain ski penetration doubled to near or over 30cms. West and northwest-facing alpine start zones are scoured (e.g. Express 2-3, Fitzgerald etc.) A snow profile on a southeast-facing slope near treeline revealed poor structure with a resistant, cohesive slab over weaker snow buried around 12/10/2020. Also apparent was a layer of near surface faceted grains buried around 12/28/2020 and down 30cms below the surface. Long column tests produced moderate propagating results on the deeper persistent weak layer (ECTP13 down 50 cms on 3mm DH). No notable melt-freeze crusts at the profile location aside from a degraded and faceted remnant capping the snow from October.
Avalanche
Remnants from the avalanche cycle that occurred from 12/28 to 12/29 were visible in Xpress Bowl and the general area of Upper Express Creek. Chunks of debris were visible on north, northeast, east, and southeast facing slopes; however, I could not make out any distinct crowns aside from a more recent small avalanche below treeline on a north-facing slope. That said, the crowns from that avalanche cycle are still somewhat visible in the Five Fingers area above Conundrum Creek.