Aspen
AvalancheNathan Rowland · Apr 3, 2018 · Aspen
Weather
9am at 10,800 ft. Valley Floor. Calm winds, clear sky cover, ~10 degrees F.
Snowpack
2-4 inches of new snow from overnight. New snow is cold and of a low density. Below the new snow is a superficial crust that is unsupportive to boot, ski or snowmobile for that matter. Below the crust is up to 90 cm of wet, saturated and unfrozen snow. The snow at the bottom of the pack was saturated enough to wring water out of. New snow must have fallen before the freeze set in and insulated the snowpack enough to prevent a freeze from happening. Boot penetration was to the ground if you step off of old snowmobile tracks.
Avalanche
Two slides were noted: One was on a North facing shoulder of Grizzly Peak with crown at ~12,600ft. Ran ~500 ft. Could not see debris. Estimating R2 - D1.5. Ran as a storm slab or wind slab. The second slide was also North facing on a shoulder of Truro Peak below a small cornice at ~12,400 ft. Ran ~200ft and appeared to be a soft wind slab. R1 - D1.