Vail & Summit County

Avalanche

Zach Wade · Dec 24, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Snowfall Rate/Type: S3 Blowing Snow/Direction: M, NW - Below Treeline (11,033') - 31 degree slope - Aspect: 70 degrees

Snowpack

Ski penetrates close to ground on trail break. Widespread depth hoar. No whumping or cracking. Column tests show repeatable easy sudden collapses (CTE SC) with propagation (ECTP1) at interface between new and old snow (down 20 cm in this 70cm HS location). Base layer is not supportable (depth hoar), likely to step down to ground. - Below Treeline (11,033') - 31 degree slope - Aspect: 70 degrees

Avalanche

Sluffs easy to kick off on small terrain features on all aspects travelled (NE-E-SE). Breaks on interface between new and old snow. Easy to break to ground.