Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Mar 4, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

View on map

Weather

Strong gusts of wind today, especially through mountain passes. Gusts of wind estimated to be close to 40 mph at 13000 ft.

Snowpack

Rec trip today so limited digging in the snow. Traveling through above treeline, alpine terrain, the snowpack is variable as per usual. Very thin areas, scattered hard slabs, and any westerly slope held very little snow. The wind managed to find some snow to move and a smallish natural, Wind Slab avalanche occurred on a steep northerly slope that was being cross loaded. This Wind Slab avalanche and associated wind loading was very isolated and overall there was very little snow being transported on the highest ridgelines...The one area that I did dig on was a north-facing, near treeline slope. The upper snowpack is extremely weak. There is no slab and no concerns for now but it will have to be monitored for a future load.