Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Scott Toepfer · May 20, 2021 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Upper Blue/Tenmile. Some residual cloud cover over night and into mid-morning. No freeze at 10,200’. Fairly strong breeze from west, 10-20 mph with stronger gusts above 11,000’. 15-25 and gustyabove 13,000. 34F at around 13,900 at 10 am. Skies cleared some, but morphed into cumulus.with some weak showers afternoon.

Snowpack

Easterly & southerly aspects above 11,000’. Weak crust that supported skis but not boot between 7 am and 10 am up to around 12,500, then became more supportable. 1-2” frozen crust rested on 12-14” of moist poly grains that appeared to still be draining water. Steeper east aspect (~12,500) it was too soft at 10:15. Another hour and probably would not have wanted to be there. Could push off slush sluffs on turns a couple inches deep. Deeper Underlying crust did not feel solid. Good to be off East & south by 10:00 until we get a solid freeze cycle, N aspect had an inch or so of new snow. Still cold at 10 am.

Avalanche

1 WLNR1D0.5O on NE aspect at 12,000’. Ran about 4-500 vertical. Guess at 2-6” deep.