Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAnonymous · Apr 28, 2011 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Clear 25F above 12,000 warmer below TL. Winds W-NW steady 10-15mph w/ gusts to 25. Snow from last storm cycle was transporting a moderate amount of snow. Small to Med plumes on ridge tops.
Snowpack
Climbed and skied Mt Helen just to the S of Francie's Cabin. Pretty much all skiing up and down were on SE -E-NE aspect. Skied down on wind scoured snow - lots of sustrugi forming on the flat face of the Mtn above TL. Wind and temps above TL required jacket, but wasn't too bitter. Snow wasn't that great.... Snow Below TL Was soft and not wet but rapidly settling and warming. Snow was melting off of trees rapidly. Originally planned to ski my usual route more to the S of the route I took but saw sleds parked at Francies and decided to go have a word with the owners of the sleds which took me further to the N. Upper Full Moon is a known slide path and I approached it cautiously. Snow had punchy wind slab and I skied/slipped close to a tree island/strip that borders on side of the slope. Looked at skiing off to the S a little but that didn't seem any better so i got to the point were I could cross the track about 2/3 way down the slope with enough speed to have some options if it moved. Didn't want to cross lower because I wouldn't have any speed. Anyway.... I crossed and when I was about 3/4 of the way across it fractured. I skied out of edge easily and watched the rest of it come down.