Aspen
SnowpackZach Guy · Apr 14, 2025 · Gunnison
Weather
cloud cover: few; wind loading: light; recent snowfall (cm): 0; snow avail for transport: none
Snowpack
Below treeline this morning, we found a ~25cm refreeze, which was supportive to skis, sleds, and most boot pen. This afternoon, the snowpack became trapdoor and unsupportive. I tested a few steep slopes this afternoon and couldn’t get any rollerballs or sluffs moving in mature wet grains, and water appears to be draining through the entire snowpack without a lingering wet slab structure. A few handpits on east to northeast aspects near and above treeline showed refrozen ice lenses and wet grains in the upper snowpack, with moist, rounded snow still making up a significant portion of the pack. These slopes remained supportive until we left at 1:30 pm, and offered decent corn-like skiing shortly after noon with the top few inches or less getting wet. Northerly aspects have seen minimal meltwater above treeline; some slopes are entirely dry with surface faceting, while others have thin surface crusts. . No signs of instability or recent avalanches.