Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Anonymous · Jan 17, 2015 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Clear, calm day, previous night was moderately windy, fresh evidence of wind loading

Snowpack

Snow from the last week sitting on surface hoar from previous week, reactive shallow releases. Deeper in the pack, December snow still sitting on weak depth hoar from early season.

Avalanche

Came upon recent persistent slab, NNE aspect, 40* slope, trigger unknown, either cornice fall overnight or triggered by person dropping 10ft cliff/cornice above slope. Fractured initially on surface hoar from 1/8-9, crown about 5in but stepped down into the persistent layers deeper in pack aprox. 2ft deep. Quick search of debris with the beacon got no hits.