Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Becs Hodgetts · Feb 28, 2014 · Vail & Summit County

View on map

Weather

Squalls started the tour with intermittent snow showers and sun. Gave way to broken skies then scattered by the end of tour. Felt very spring-like. Snow surface was beginning to become moist by 2 pm.

Snowpack

North aspects below treeline very supportive with strong (1F to P) mid pack slab ~100cm thick. New snow bonding well to old snow surface. South slopes below and near treeline harbor 5 to 15cm thick melt-freeze crust under new snow. No obvious signs of surface instabilities. Exposed east slopes near and above treeline showing continued cornice growth and moderate wind loading. Some small sluffs observed from cornice fall. Snowmobilers and skiers testing small steep slopes with only minor sloughing.

Avalanche

Avalanche observed across valley from Ptarmigan peak.