Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Scott Toepfer · Dec 16, 2016 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Rather mild weather temperature wise. Wind on exposed ridges was enough to drift some snow, but not far down slope. We did not get above treeline. Suspect wind transport there was stronger. Visibility was quite grey bird and fuzzy, no definition above treeline or across valley. Snowfall rates showing slight increase through our tour period

Snowpack

Shallow, though supportive, very noisy rumbling collapses and extensive cracking. Basal weak layer some 5 to 10 cm thick noted on all aspects we traveled today. Cracking ranged from 20 to 30 feet out in front on NW aspects NTL to 100+ feet out on NE aspects. Almost constant small collapse and cracking radially around skis, but skis did not break through to ground.