Aspen

Snowpack

Strong winds from December 31st have created a highly variable snowpack in the West Willow Creek area. Near and above treeline, the snowpack is composed primarily of wind slabs sitting above depth hoar. In general, snowpack depths are very shallow in this valley. The distribution and depth of the wind slabs in the upper snowpack varies greatly over short distances. Easterly aspects were the most heavily loaded, but even there, the wind slabs existed in pockets, often next to areas of bare ground or very shallow snowpack. Heavy cross loading was also noted on northwest aspects above treeline due to some locally south winds. A small cycle of natural avalanches was observed that likely ran during the day on December 31st. Looking to the west into the East Snowmass Creek valley, east facing slopes along the ridge between Garrett Peak and Willoughby Mountain appeared to have a much deeper snowpack than the valley we traveled in. This terrain also showed evidence of recent lee and cross loading, though it likely had potential for larger triggered avalanches due to the more uniform snow cover in that valley. Lots of variation in the snowpack from one valley to the next.