Sawatch
AvalancheColin Mitchell · Apr 28, 2016 · Aspen
Weather
Overcast with a little sun poking through now and then and snow flurries. Moderate S-SE winds.
Snowpack
New snow was bonding well to the melt-freeze crust that formed during last week's warmup. Below the crust the snow was very wet and unconsolidated down to a stout ice crust about 35 cm above the ground. The wet layer was large clustered melt forms with a variety of ice lenses and large perc columns. The bottom layer was wet, but lacked the perc columns and was significantly harder. This very weak structure was sensitive to column tests, ECTP11 SC x 2 down 25. The midpack wet layer had very little strength. Foot pen 60 cm. Wet slabs will be a concern here until this layer freezes or the overlying slab and crusts lose cohesion from continued heating. A big storm could create problems here.
Avalanche
No avalanches observed.