Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

The snowpack was shallow where I dug in Batchplant--only 69cm deep--but is representative of terrain where the snowpack had consolidated/melted down substantially in this southeast-facing, above treeline start zone prior to the holiday storm. I found a slab sitting on top of basal facets/depth hoar, with ECTP results at the depth hoar. There is a faceting melt-freeze crust in the facets about 5cm above the depth hoar. Below treeline on southeast-facing slopes I had a couple of rumbling collapses. On my return to the trailhead an avalanche--possibly natural, skier, or remote triggered--had run and covered part of the typical skin track through the area.