Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Mar 1, 2024 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
There were few clouds and moderate winds from the southwest at the ridgetop. Temperatures were in the high 20s and low 30s.
Snowpack
I found the February weak layer(s) in each pit that I dug. Below treeline on a sheltered northerly slopes, there was about half a meter of snow above the weak layer. Although the snow above the weak layer was hard enough to be considered a slab, I only got non-propagating results in an Extended Column Test (ECT). The weak layer in this pit was composed of facets and rounding surface hoar grains. Just a couple hundred vertical feet above this pit in a wind-affected area near treeline, the weak layer was also 50cm from the surface, but I got a propagating result after taps from the elbow in an ECT. A Propagation Saw Test on the weak layer failed to end after a cut of 34cm. Again, the weak layer was composed of facets and rounding surface hoar grains. The snow above the weak layer here was more wind-affected and a little bit denser than in the trees. On easterly aspects, there was evidence of many small avalanches running within the most recently drifted snow. From what I could see, none of these slides stepped down to the February weak layers or deeper. All of the slides were on steep slopes just below ridgelines lee to the westerly winds. In a snowpit on a southeast-facing slope, the February weak layers were facet-crust combinations. In an ECT, I got a propagating result on the lower February crust-facet combination after two blows from the shoulder. There was also a non-propagating result after three taps just below the most recently drifted snow. The February layers were still about 50cm below the surface here. The non-propagating result near the surface was about 15cm below the surface. Generally, the height of snow in this area averaged between 120-150cm. Drifted areas were close to two meters deep. Above treeline slopes were wind-affected with stiff snow on the surface. Close to 12,000 feet there was no new crust development on the surface on southerly slopes. Once I got closer to 11,500 feet, a new surface crust was apparent. I observed no cracking or collapsing on my tour. Although wind speeds were prime to drift snow, there was not a significant amount being transported.