Aspen
Snowpackblase reardon · Dec 13, 2014 · Aspen
Weather
Winds light but variable - noted winds from SE, S, and NW early-mid afternoon. Front moving in with lowering clouds early afternoon. Upper Castle and Maroon Cks obscured by 2 PM. Sawatch and Sopris/ Crystal River Valley obscured shortly thereafter. Clouds over Highlands by 3 pm, w S-1 as front moved overhead. Steady S1, possibly higher, by 6 pm in Roaring Fk valley above ~7000 ft, w northerly winds. WRF very close on timing of cloud cover - missed by less than 2 hours - and start of precip.
Snowpack
Binocular survey from Highlands Peak. Above treeline, snowcover variable, with many sun- and wind-exposed slopes bare. However, sheltered areas like gullies and shady bowls below ridgelines hold continuous snow. Near treeline, E-NE-N slopes near ridgelines seem to hold nearly continuous snow cover; only a few bare spots. Snow cover on NW facing slopes and sunny slopes looks thin, sometimes discontinuous. Below treeline, sunny slopes mostly melted bare. Shady slopes below ~9000' have been through rain and/ or MF cycles. Shady slopes still holding snow.