Aspen

Snowpack

Brian McCall · Jan 30, 2011 · Aspen

Weather

Broken skies in the morning. Overcast pm hours. SW winds not moving snow.

Snowpack

Snowpack depths and structure similar to other areas around Marble. HS average 2 meters at 10,500 ft. Weak layer concern mostly in upper snowpack. Less concerns mid and lower snowpack. Shadier west and northwest aspects, found two older surface hoar layer buried 25 and 35 cm below surface. Lower layer produced moderate sudden collapse failures in compression tests though no propagation on ECT's. Still a concern with future loading though. South and southwest aspects had a thin melt freeze crusts on the snow surface topped with 2-3mm surface hoar grains. Cooler temps and overcast skies today so this layer likely to survive to burial on Monday.South aspects could be tender with next storm. West and northwest aspects near and below treeline also had new surface hoar layer on top of snowpack. Larger grains up to 5mm on these aspects.