Vail & Summit County
AvalancheDavid Dellamora · Jan 25, 2014 · Vail & Summit County
Weather
Clear skies, generally calm winds and near freezing temperatures.
Snowpack
We dug two pits dug along the WSW flanks of a fairly shallow HS-AR-R1/D2 avalanche that was reported 1/17/14. HS100cm with classic Moderate structure: test results were difficult to initiate, failed suddenly yet did not propagate. Aside from the aged debris from the 1/17 incident, we experienced no signs of natural instability and the moist to dry surface conditions were supportable and carving turns was easy.
Avalanche
The slide we investigated was triggered by a snowboarder on, or around Jan. 17. The persistent slab avalanche released on a Westerly aspect just above tree line. Most likely, the trigger point was the notorious and repeat offender Jerry Garcia Rock centered in the middle of the bowl, where the slab was thinnest.