Aspen
AvalancheBrian Lazar · Jan 19, 2018 · Aspen
Weather
Warm. Day started totally clear and then high thin clouds began to build around 11AM. Breezy SW winds but only along the ridgeline. Otherwise calm just a few meters of the ridges and peak.
Snowpack
Snowpack is noticeably less reactive then a few days ago. The mid-pack slab is stiffer, ranging from 4F to 1F. Each bigger storm so far this season (Nov 17, Christmas, and Jan 9-12) are distinct and separated by thin layers of small buried near-surface facets, but these layers not reactive in tests. The depth hoar is ever present and makes up the lower 30cm of the snowpack, but with the stiffer overlying mid-packs slabs now 2+ ft thick and stiffer, it is gettign harder to affect the depth hoar than just a few days ago. All recent avalanche activity breaking on top of this layer.
Avalanche
Witnessed 6 previously unreported avalanches from the last cycle. Best estimate from is that these all ran Jan 12-13. All ran naturally, all near treeline, and all and broke 3 feet deep on top of depth hoar. 3 on NE aspect, 2 on N aspect, and 1 on NW aspect.