Aspen

Avalanche

blase reardon · Dec 24, 2016 · Aspen

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Weather

Alternately broken and overcast skies. WInds southerly w increasing speeds during the day. Hoods n goggles on NTL ridge by late afternoon. Visible plumes and banners from ATL summits.

Snowpack

Shallow ski penetration - 10-15 cm in AM, less as wind packed snow surface during the day. Dense mid-pack slab over fine-grained/ rounding facets.

Avalanche

Triggered numerous small slabs on leeward and crossloaded slopes immediately below ridgelines. These were growing rapidly. Large, skier-triggered soft-slab avalanche from late 12/23 or early 12/24. Lack of wind-drifted snow in entry tracks suggests latter, but not definitive. Dimensions of crown D2.5; volume more D2. Slide may have been a repeater on bed surface of older slide, though indistinct WL present on nearby slopes that didn't slide.