Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Steve Stowell · Jan 18, 2020 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Location per google map, aspect approx 200 degrees, elevation 11,690, time 11:00 am. Partly sunny, temp approx 23F. Broken high cloud layer, hazy visibility due to intermitent blowing snow. Wind approx 250 degrees at 8 gusting to 20mph.

Snowpack

Location per google map, time 11AM. Aspect approx 200 degrees. Elevation 11,690 feet. Pit was approx 1.2M deep to ground, on a 38 degree rollover next to the road (measured with inclinometer to demonstrate to the class). Not enough time for a full pit, however as I demonstrated running fingers down the layers we found from bottom up: 5cm well developed depth hoar, clearly recognizable with naked eye classic cup shaped approx 3mm in size, fist hardness; 1cm crust layer; 25cm similar depth hoar; approx 20cm wind slab, 1 finger hardness; then approx 20cm new/ wind deposited snow, 4 finger to fist hardness. Performed an ECT for the class, results were ECTP15 Q1/ sudden collapse, breaking roughly on the layer above the 1cm crust.

Avalanche

None observed