Aspen
AvalancheGreg Shaffran · Dec 30, 2016 · Aspen
Weather
A few wispy and lenticular clouds hanging up by the pass. Calm winds, and above freezing temps measured in the field at 10am 10800'.
Snowpack
We skied numerous laps on SSE - E - N aspects from 11000-10400 on 35+ degree slopes. I was surprised by the total lack of any wind crust and the lack of a sun crust on solar aspects. Snow was soft with ski pen approx. 20cm. Snow depth was just under 1m and in numerous hasty hand pits I found small .5-1mm rounding facets at the bottom that seemed moist in some places. There were no results with CT tests, but easy hand sheers above the 10-15cm of rounding facets at the bottom, and below the 60-80cm of slab. I couldn't find any weak layers or shear planes within that slab.
Avalanche
One very small sluff on a steep North facing slope at 10800' that tends to avalanche often.