Aspen
SnowpackBrian Lazar · Jan 11, 2019 · Aspen
Weather
Cool, calm, and overcast to obscured skies. The new snow from last night was still on the tree branches, even at summit/ridgeline. It was snowing S-1 periodically throughout the day with a trace of new accumulation by 1:30pm.
Snowpack
Snowpack here is generally thin and weak. Not enough continuous snow cover with a slab below treeline to cause concern expect on isolated, open, wind-loaded slopes facing north and east. The main concern here are shallowly buried obstacles.Average height of snow ranges 50 to 70cm. The snowpack depth increases above around 10,500 ft to around a 100 to 115cm deep. There is a slab supportable to skis, but boot pen is to the ground. Wind-loaded terrain features near ridgeline could produce a slab around 2 ft thick breaking on basal facets.