Aspen

Snowpack

Brandon Levy · Dec 3, 2018 · Aspen

Weather

Snow and overcast skies eventually gave way to broken skies around noon. Light wind from the west with temperatures in the teens to low twenties

Snowpack

7-11" of low density (4-5%) snow fell overnight on McClure Pass. Recent storms have deposited about two feet of snow since 11/29 at the summit elevation. Ski penetration was generally 30-50 cms and boot pen was up to 90cms. One significant collapse when I transitioned from skis to boots at the profile location near the ridge above Bears Gulch--audible and shook the snow off the bushes up to 20 ft away. A thin layer of depth hoar rests on a crust near the base of the snowpack on a NE facing slope at 9925'. Not a lot of water or substance to the "slab" above this layer yet and instability tests revealed moderate to hard sudden results. Still plenty of non-avalanche related hazard on the egress.