Details

• Date: 2019/12/15

• Observer: Ethan Greene, Jason Konigsberg
• Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

• BC Zone: Vail & Summit County
• Area Description: Gold Hill-Mayflower area

Weather

• Ridgeline Wind Speed: Calm
• Wind Loading: None
• Sky Cover: Overcast
• Depth of Total Snow: 105 cm

Snowpack

• Snowpack Description: We experienced numerous collapses and observed many shooting cracks. All cracks were deep and into the depth hoar. No sign of any storm snow instability. Even with strong winds during the storm, the slab was fairly uniform and consistent across slopes and terrain features. One crack that we initiated and resulting collapse and shooting cracks, went for over 1000 feet. The result was also an avalanche on a steep, small terrain feature.(See avalanche ob). Also we collapsed a southwest-facing, below treeline, small terrain feature. The slab moved an inch or two and deep cracks opened up but no avalanche occurred.

Avalanches

• Avalanche Description: We heard a collapse and saw shooting cracks near the ridge as far as we could see. We traveled along the ridge and saw the cracks continue, off and on, for at least 1000 feet. Slopes in this area are mostly low angle. A terrain feature that was a little steeper slid but in general the slope angle wasn't enough for avalanches.

	Date	Location/Path	#	Elev	Asp	Type	Trig	SizeR	SizeD
	2019/12/15  †	10-mile Range	1	TL	NE	SS	AS / r	R3	D1.5
Date: 2019/12/15 (Estimated) Observer: Ethan Greene, Jason Konigsberg Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Gold Hill Landmark: 10-mile Range Elevation: 11800 ft Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm Weak Layer: Layer Weak Layer Grain Type: Depth Hoar Average Crown: 36 in Maximum Crown: 48 in Average Width: 100 ft Average Vertical: 60 ft

Media

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