Vail & Summit County
AvalanchePatrick Ward · May 10, 2015 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Above 12,000. North and east facing. Sun to storm, hot to cold. 1+ inches new snow around 7 am with periodic showers later. Temperatures fluctuated rapidly as weather moved through. The light was very flat when we triggered avalanches.
Snowpack
Below 11,500 snow was sticky and soaked. Higher elevations showed a distinct crust with new snow on top (5 inches). Grapple was mixed into snow at all elevations.
Avalanche
East facing, estimate 12,300 feet. New snow stuffed on top old snow on steep and open faces, though not deep enough to knock us down. A cornice located below the ridge on a 45 degree angle did release under the weight of my partner, though he did not fall with it. It released with washing machine size blocks that triggered further releases in the bowl below.