Details

• Date: 2013/12/26

• Observer: Becs Hodgetts
• Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

• BC Zone: Vail & Summit County
• Area Description: North side Vail Pass. West ridge Uneva Peak

Weather

• Ridgeline Wind Speed: 5-10 mph
• Temperature: 10 F
• Sky Cover: Few
• Depth of Total Snow: 100 cm
• Weather Description: Sunny and Clear some high clouds 10F at Parking Lot. Skies progressed broken cloud cover during tour.

Snowpack

• Snowpack Description: Traveled in S and SW aspects to ridgeline. Below treeline snowdepth ~ 1m unconsolidated to ground. South aspects at treeline also 1m with 3 prominent mfc's. The latest on the surface from yesterdays warm up. Wind Slab evident on East aspects near and above treeline, and cross-loaded terrain features. Several skier-triggered and natural avalanches observed on steep East slopes near and above treeline. Hand pit on East aspect near treeline surface 30cm's 1F slab on 60cm 4F slab. Obs suggest slide running at Wind Slab/ near surface facet interface.

Snowpack Obsvervation #1 Cracking: None Collapsing: Rumbling Persistent Weak Layer: Yes Comments: Easy collapses within the new snow @10cm from surface. Hard ct results between (1F)facets and (4F)depth hoar @ 35cm from ground. Remotely triggered two small soft windslab features near treeline with a collapse in a willowy area. SE aspect near treeline. HS 90cm. easy shears between 40cm wind slab (1F) and old snow. Weak layer - near surface facets - lower slab (1F+)30cm facets,depth hoar (1-3mm, 4F) 20cm to ground.

Avalanches

• Avalanche Description: Several skier triggered and natural avalanches observed (probably ran 12/24). Remotely triggered two small avalanches near treeline on SW facing slope. Large collapse was felt as we skied into a willowed area. As we skied away, we noticed two small cross-loaded wind features had failed.

	Date	Location/Path	#	Elev	Asp	Type	Trig	SizeR	SizeD
	2013/12/26  †	Uneva Peak	1	TL	NE	HS	N / c	R1	D2
Date: 2013/12/26 (Estimated) Observer: Becs Hodgetts Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Steep terrain near and above treeline Landmark: Uneva Peak Average Slope Angle: 35 ° Maximum Slope Angle: 40 ° Elevation: 11800 ft Sliding Surface: O - Within Old Snow Weak Layer: Interface Weak Layer Grain Type: Near Surface Facets Average Crown: 36 in Maximum Crown: 12 in Average Width: 200 ft Maximum Width: 300 ft Average Vertical: 200 ft Maximum Vertical: 300 ft Comments: Probably occurred 12/24
	2013/12/26  †	Uneva Peak	1	TL	SW	SS	AS / r	R1	D1
Date: 2013/12/26 (Estimated) Observer: Becs Hodgetts Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Rolling meadows, lightly treed. Evidence of recent cross-loading Landmark: Uneva Peak Average Slope Angle: 30 ° Maximum Slope Angle: 35 ° Elevation: 10800 ft Sliding Surface: I - New/Old Interface Weak Layer: Interface Weak Layer Grain Type: Faceted Crystals Average Crown: 6 in Maximum Crown: 12 in Average Width: 20 ft Maximum Width: 40 ft Average Vertical: 20 ft Maximum Vertical: 50 ft
	2013/12/26  †	Vail Pass	1	<TL	NE	SS	AS	R1	D1.5
Date: 2013/12/26 (Estimated) Observer: Becs Hodgetts Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Cliff above Black Lakes Landmark: Vail Pass Average Slope Angle: 40 ° Maximum Slope Angle: 35 ° Elevation: 10500 ft Sliding Surface: I - New/Old Interface Average Crown: 12 in Maximum Crown: 24 in Average Width: 40 ft Maximum Width: 60 ft Average Vertical: 50 ft Maximum Vertical: 100 ft Comments: Probably triggered 12/25

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