Aspen
AvalancheBrandon Levy · Jan 4, 2020 · Aspen
Weather
Single digits at the turn to Marble and about 15 degrees warmer at the McClure Pass summit this morning (17F at the summit). Temperatures warmed to near and above freezing by midday. High clouds increased throughout the morning. Winds increased from the WSW with moderate to intense loading observed on Chair Mountain above tree line.
Snowpack
The snowpack in the Lone Tree Bowl area is generally weak with mainly faceted grains that exhibit some early signs of rounding. The snow depth at the profile location was about 48" while the summit weather plot is 33". The interface of the Christmas storm is near-surface facets at the profile location but this interface is a thin crust at lower and more sun exposed locations. The depth hoar showed significant signs of rounding.
Avalanche
Witnessed very small loose avalanche activity in Lone Tree Bowl due to solar input and snow falling off the trees.