Aspen

Observed one large slab avalanche that looked a few days old on Hell Roaring Ridge and a handful of Loose Wet avalanches on steep south and southeast-facing slopes near and above treeline. None of the Loose Wet avalanches triggered any slab activity on the same slopes.

Very warm and sunny morning with clouds rolling in later in the afternoon. Calm all day with no visible snow transport even on top of Capitol Peak.

Below about 10,500 feet the slab is around 1 -1.5 feet thick and quickly degrading with grains throughout showing clear signs of faceting with the top 10cm being composed entirely of near-surface facets. The slab below this elevation rests on top of a thick (2cm) rain crust (IFrc) with facets going down to the ground below it. The crust thins and weakens with increasing elevation. Snowpack tests showed propagating failures consistently below the crust after moderate taps in extended column tests and after cutting about 1/3 of the column in propagation saw tests. Snow was melting quickly on south-facing slopes by about 11:00. There was widespread surface hoar development on north-facing slopes below and near treeline where I traveled.