Vail & Summit County
AvalancheDylan Craaybeek Rich Rogers · Dec 19, 2023 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
OVC/BKN, Precipitated: NIL wind: L-M WSW, Temp: 25-30º.
Snowpack
We were not surprised to find buried surface hoar in this area. Mainly to due the, somewhat, widespread observations before and after previous storms. On North aspect at 11,330 ft HS was 96cm. We measured density and converted to snow water equivalent of 7.2 inches of total SWE. Later compared to Snotel sites nearby which averaged 5-6 inches of SWE (Profile attached). No collapsing or shooting cracks though a group that was staying at the Polar Star shared with us that they experienced minor cracking and collapsing. This group's info and our easy-to-moderate test scores reinforce that persistent slab can be stubborn in one area and reactive in others. Notables from this area were the 3 buried surface hoar layers. Two of those layers displayed propagating results, one near the surface (down 21cm) and the other mid-pack (down 37cm). The immediate area, above the tree line, was heavily impacted by wind, and any surface snow still present is shallow with ski penetration less than 5cm or confined to steep, rocky chutes. Slopes that we observed below the tree line were either shallow, unsupportable, or bare on SW-W-N aspects
Avalanche
New York Mtn., NNE, 12,000 ft, complex terrain, days- week old, D1.5