Aspen

Avalanche

Philip Ruegger · Mar 5, 2019 · Aspen

View on map

Weather

3/3 - s1 to s2 through the day as we skinned in from 9500 to 10500 feet light wind at that elevation and relatively mild temps but still cold snow 3/4 - relatively clear and warm in am through mid afternoon. increasing clouds and a trace of snow in pm. Cleared in the night. moderate WSW winds at ridgetop 3/5 - clear and warm. calm to light wind

Snowpack

on way into lindley stepped on rollover below road cut around 10000 feet west facing triggered whoomp and long shooting cracks presumably into base facets. HST since thursday night up to 55 cm HS above lindley approx 160 cm on west facing slopes around 10600 feet ECTP hard (above normal scoring) on 55 cm down ECTP hard (above normal scoring) on base facets 110 cm down after removing storm slab

Avalanche

noted up to 7 avalanches that ran mostly on E NE SE aspects near and above TL on larger terrain features under cliff bands or in large alpine bowls. Some of these looked to run at the base of the storm interface and some stepped down to base facets. pictures attached.