Sawatch

Snowpack

Becs Hodgetts · May 2, 2016 · Aspen

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Weather

Beautiful calm day with sun beginning to break through clouds. 40F when I left gate closure on Valley floor.

Snowpack

Estimate HST at 12K feet to be around 12 inches. Cross-loading evident on NW slopes above treeline. New snow settling quickly, snow surface was moist when I hit valley floor at 1030 am. Numerous very small Wet Loose point releases from rock bands even by mid-morning. No other avalanches observed. Snow cover on Beeler Grade not reactive to snowpack tests (with the exception of storm snow/old snow interface CT5SC). This test preformed early in morning before sun had warmed snow surface. Later in the morning it was easy to sluff this layer with skis, however sluff would only travel `10m before arresting, even above steep slopes. Rollerballs were begnning as snow ran off cliff faces around 1130am. Debris on road under Beeler grade ranged from 6-15 feet (three times overhead for me).