Vail & Summit County
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Feb 4, 2023 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Moderate winds were transporting snow above treeline onto easterly-facing slopes. Few clouds and temperatures in the high teens and twenties.
Snowpack
Snow transport was evident above treeline with moderate westerly winds and strong gusts. No cracking or collapsing was observed and the snowpack was supportable to ski travel. There was a breakable melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. Some surface hoar was observed below treeline above this crust. Northerly aspects still had cold, dry snow on the surface. We dug on west and southwest aspects below treeline. Both pits had non-propagating results in Extended Column Tests about 20-30cm below the surface. On the southwest aspect, there were easy propagating results in an Extended Column Test just below the surface melt-freeze crust in a layer of near-surface facets. Some rollerballs were noted in southerly-facing steep road cuts on the highway.