Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Anonymous · Apr 20, 2011 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Snowy clearing to sunny and hot

Snowpack

Dug a pit at tree line on NW aspect, 30 degrees. About 2 feet of fresh/soft snow on top of 2 ice crusts. Crusts were about 1cm thick each, 2-3 inches apart. Below the crusts were about 2.5 feet of 4 finger snow on top of an inch thick dust layer. First time seeing that this season. 2 compression tests showed no failure between the new snow and the ice layer. A third showed failure at the ice layer on 25ish hits. (CT25Q2) Snow pack didn't seem wet and generally seemed really safe. Skiing down brains we had a few small soft slabs kick loose (5" x 6ft) and lots of sluff but no major signs of instability. Snow down in the trees on the way out was wet and heavy.