Aspen
SnowpackPolly Layton, Brian Lazar · Nov 13, 2020 · Aspen
Weather
Cool day with temps remained well below freezing throughout the day. Overcast skies clearing by the afternoon. Winds shifted from west to the south by mid day, coinciding with clearing skies.
Snowpack
Average snow depth is around 40cm on east and northeast-facing slopes. Snow depth is a bit thicker (60cm) in wind-loaded terrain features which seem most prominent on northwest aspects in this area. In wind-loaded areas the slab is stiff enough and continuous enough across the terrain to produce D1.5 avalanches breaking on the 10cm of basal facets from October snow. This layer produced results in large column tests (ECTP22). In more sheltered areas, there is barely a discernable slab and the snowpack is mostly weak throughout.