Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Feb 15, 2016 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Intense wind-loading NTL and ATL, didn't get much higher then treeline due to conditions.New snow increased dramatically with elevation, 2-3" at low elevation trailhead and about 12" HST above 11500 ft.

Snowpack

New snow showed few signs of instability in non-wind affected areas. On the easterly aspects we traveled the new snow fell on a thin melt-freeze crust. Storm snow showed a decent bond to the crust. No propagation in storm snow in tests and storm snow did not show properties of a slab.---The overall structure in areas traveled is fair. No buried surface hoar observed but uppermost portion of depth hoar is still weak. The depth hoar towards the ground showed signs of strength and was one-finger hardness or greater in places. It would take a large load for avalanches to break on layers below the very strong mid-pack slab.---We observed intense wind transport but did not travel on or near slopes that were currently being loaded. Assumption is that Wind Slab avalanches are possible on easterly aspects but none observed.