Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

In the south aspect pit, the snowpack measured 53 centimeters deep, with the bottom 20 centimeters consisting of small grained facets, approximately 1mm in size, rated at four finger minus hardness. Above this was a four finger slab comprised of recent snow, likely containing decomposing or wind-broken fragments. An Extended Column Test (ECT) showed no notable results except for an ECTN within the storm snow with taps from the elbow. On the southeast slope, the snow depth was 58 centimeters, with less than 5 centimeters of one mil facets at the bottom and a uniform slab on top, ranging from four finger hardness at the bottom to fist hardness at the top, with about 5 centimeters of new precipitation particles atop that slab. Drifted snow was prevalent in the middle section, and an ECTP 15 was noted, although determination was difficult due to the context of the collapse.