Vail & Summit County
SnowpackDan Moroz · Nov 30, 2012 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Light breeze with no snow transport, broken clouds with off and on sun
Snowpack
Surface hoar (4-6mm) found at the parking lot (north aspect) on top of a 30cm snow pack consisting mainly of 2-3mm facets. South aspects had no snow well up to ridge line. Up in the main basin north aspect Gold Hill side but below cornice minimal snowpack. However, rather reactive 10-15 cm wind slab existed (on back side [lee] of terrain rolls)over 20 cm of well formed facets. Propagating cracks as pressure was exerted by walking thru or on it. Compression test were ct3-4 Q1 if isolated on 4 sides. Over all impression was existing snowpack is a majority of facets that were well formed and no real structure. Reactive wind slabs existed on lee sides of terrain features.These were isolated in nature. Overall hazard low. However, what snowpack there is at 11,000 ft has turned totally to large facets. Will be a weak base when it does eventually snows. Small snowfalls will only make problem worst. Need either a heavy dump to cover the bare earth on south aspects or to flush out facets on steep north aspects. YUCK!!!