Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Mar 1, 2017 · Aspen

View on map

Weather

Mostly calm, clear skies, cold temps despite sun.

Snowpack

50-70 cm recent snow above persistent weak layers - NSF or crust-facet-crust combinations.

Avalanche

Remotely triggered large Persistent Slab avalanche from flat spot ~10m away. Propagated 2/3 way across small bowl, then took out second slope below. Not sure how far it ran; bench with trees below blocked view of full path. May have taken out additional slopes below bench. Despite widespread natural avalanche cycle in Maroon Creek, no large natural avalanches observed on Conundrum Creek side of Highlands Ridge. One possible exception in feeder chute to South Highlands bowl.