Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Apr 18, 2016 · Aspen

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Weather

About 1" new snow at TH; more higher. Snow showers started midday, mostly S-1 but some bursts of higher intensity. Small rimed crystals or graupel. Lowering clouds, with peaks obscured about midday. A few puffs of wind, but essentially calm. Temps about freezing early PM at ridge.

Snowpack

Storm snow sitting on melt-freeze crust. Well-bonded in hand shears; no signs of instability. No apparent wind-drifting.

Avalanche

Poor visibility and flat light. No apparent avalanche activity. Some debris piles below Alley Peak, but couldn't tell size, type or age. North facing chutes on ridge between lunch spot and summit may have slid during storm. Possibly triggered; possibly natural. Crowns indistinct.