Aspen
AvalancheDylan Craaybeek · Apr 9, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
Warm and windy. 44F at 9:30 AM in the Ashcroft parking lot with Scattered cloud coverage and light winds. Wind steadily increased with consistent Strong winds and Extreme gusts along the ridgeline around noon. Light snow transport and winds kept westerly snow surfaces cool near and above the treeline.
Snowpack
Strong wind kept the snow surface cool on all windward aspects near and above the treeline throughout the day. Below the treeline snow surfaces quickly heated up and grew Wet to Very Wet by 11:00 AM. Northerly aspects near and above the treeline continue to be a concern as the persistent weak layer of dry well-developed facets continue to show unstable results in snowpack tests and occasional sporadic avalanches occurring on this layer. The persistent weak layer varied from 4F- to 1F- from northeast to northwest near the treeline respectively. On northwest-facing slopes near the treeline water seems to have reached the persistent weak layer as there are signs of ice columns and melt forms as a secondary grain type. There is a prominent dust layer on many snow surfaces from the past several wind events.
Avalanche
Observed one very recent avalanche on a north aspect off of Green Mountain.