Sawatch
AvalancheColin Mitchell · May 11, 2017 · Aspen
Weather
A few fluffy clouds blowing around, otherwise clear skies and very light winds.
Snowpack
Snow depth and coverage is decreasing rapidly on the paths above Hwy 82. With the exception of drifts and old avalanche debris, HS in East Roaring Fork is less than 12". West Roaring Fork HS is around 20" on average. The snowpack in both locations was wet melt forms to the ground with a few inches of very wet corn on top at 13:00. Some colder snow may exist in above treeline startzones, but it would be fairly isolated. The melt is on. Lots of bare ground is showing and ditches are running. I expect us to be at NONE on the West side by opening. Maybe as soon as the end of next week. There is still enough snow in the West Roaring Fork paths, Beeler Grade and Waterhole #1 to theoretically produce an avalanche that could reach the road, but the current snowpack structure is not likely to produce slides large enough to threaten the highway.
Avalanche
No new activity observed