Aspen

Snowpack

Matt Huber · Mar 1, 2019 · Aspen

Weather

Visibilty was poor so I was unable to get observations on wind-loading above treeline. Very little to no wind effect at and below treeline. I spoke with three separate groups leaving huts in the areas. 18" of new snow overnight at Tagert, similar at Goowin- Green, and 14" at the Markley Hut. Snow was falling consistently throughout the trip at 1 to 2 cm's per hour.

Snowpack

14" of new snow had fallen on top of a supportive melt-freeze crust. No cracking or other signs of instability were observed in the storm snow on multiple test slopes. I dug a quick pit on south facing slope at treeline with about 140 centimeters of snow. The new/ old snow seemed to be bonding well with moderate, non-propagating results at the interface and at another crust-facet combo at 90 cm from the ground. The old facets were moist in between crusts down to about 70 cm from the ground, where a dry crust facet combo produced propagating results at 14 taps on an extended column test.