Vail & Summit County

Snowpack

Ryan Zarter · Dec 4, 2024 · Vail & Summit County

Weather

CLR skies, calm winds, and temps just below freezing.

Snowpack

I saw two layer combos of concern above treeline on a southeast aspect. The first is a pencil hard layer of snow resting on top of 4F hard facets. The second is a decomposing melt-freeze crust just above about 10cm of basal facets. I had propagating ECT results on both of these layer interfaces. The first layer combo disappears quickly as you move below ridgetop and out of previously wind-affected snow. Near treeline and in less wind-affected areas on this aspect the snow is supportive enough to provide good travel, but whatever slab there is has started to soften. I did not see a melt-freeze crust on the surface of the snowpack anywhere today in my travels, but near treeline the snow surface was starting to get moist on southerly aspects.