Aspen

Snowpack

Brian McCall · Dec 22, 2010 · Aspen

Weather

Mild temps and overcast skies.

Snowpack

Got a good look at an extensive avalanche cycle in this area. Most activity seems to have run late on Monday through mid day Tuesday. No crowns visible from any of these recent avalanches. All crowns and start zones filled back in with new snow and wind drifted snow. Treeline and alpine areas showed extensive drifting and slabs formation from southerly winds. Heavy cross loading on easterly aspects and some very deep, wind loaded pillows in the start zones of northeast aspects near treeline. All of this wind slab formation occurred AFTER the natural cycle. North through east aspects near and above treeline looked ripe for triggering in the loaded areas. Continued mild temperatures and high density storm snow at lower elevations look like they are creating some rapid settlement of the snowpack. Generally 9500 ft and lower.