Aspen

Avalanche

john morrone · Jan 31, 2017 · Aspen

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Weather

bluebird, 17F 9 AM at 9000' TH, sunny warm and moist on S exposures, cold dry on N, wind 10-15 MPH at ridgetop, 2-3 up to 5-8 mm surface hoar growth in many locations incl summit and raspberry ridge. 32F at TH at 3 PM

Snowpack

10-20cm soft on top of 30-50 cm 1 finger snow over soft (buried SH or facets?) layer. sucrust and wet on top on S-SW exposures. To N off raspberry ridge was numerous isolated wind slab patches, unreactive on 35 degrees but mainly avoided. most N-NE-E was skiing 10-20 cm surface facets and surface hoar over supportive layer.

Avalanche

minor sloughing in steep pockets, a few isolated surf wind slabs at steep old ski cuts in crazy steep locations N off raspberry ridge at 11,300'