Details

• Date: 2010/12/27

• Observer: Public

Location

• BC Zone: Vail & Summit County

Weather

• Weather Description: Flurries (some intense) Thursday led to clear and warm conditions through Sunday AM.

Snowpack

• Snowpack Description: 1-2 cm surface hoar formed friday and saturday night in open areas at and below TL. While sun was visibly degrading the SH on southerly aspects, the layer was likely buried intact on most aspects by Sunday night snowfall. 1 recent avalanche observed, on Wingle Ridge on a NE aspect, SE of point 11977. Snowmobile track dropping off cornice leads me to surmise a snomo trigger. Numerous snowmobile highmark and traverse tracks buried/erased by the release & debris. I'd call it a HS-AMu-R1-D1-O. Can send a long-range pic if you like. Other snowmo cornice-huck tracks were nearby, with no avalanche triggered. Lots of highmark activity in that entire bowl, as usual. Dug 2 snowpits in close proximity, near TL, SE of Shrine Mountain, at about 11,700' on ENE aspect, 30+ degree slope. Did not make detailed pit measurements, but profiles were about 2m HS, new snow/SH at surface, firm to stiff (4F to 1F+) wind slabs on top of depth hoar. Decomposing SH/NSF layer (~0.5 - 1mm grains) at about 60 cm depth was primary weak layer. 4 CT's: SH/NSF layer produced consistently CTM14-16, Q2. Depth hoar was a consistent CTH25-27, Q3. Several other wind/snow event density contrasts were highlighted by moderate shovel shears, but did not respond to CTs.

Avalanches

	Date	Location/Path	#	Elev	Asp	Type	Trig	SizeR	SizeD
	2010/12/27		1	TL	NE	HS	AM	R1	D1
Date: 2010/12/27 Area Description: SE of point 11977