Snowpack

Paradise Divide

Eric MurrowAspen
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Quick report

Most terrain holds no snow.  You can find a thin layer of faceted snow on higher-elevation north slopes.   Dry conditions and warm temperatures have left just a few slopes and features with enough old snow to create problematic persistent weak layers when the first winter storm arrives.

Weather

Cloud Cover
few

Unseasonably warm temperatures and light winds

Snowpack

Most slopes don't hold snow.  Northerly slopes near/above treeline hold a thin coating of old snow.  I hiked through a northwest-facing bowl between 11,300 feet and 12,100 feet and found a mix of windboard and 1-3mm facets about 3 - 6 inches deep.  The ground in this bowl is relatively smooth and has small talus; thus, the weak snow could be a failure layer after future snowfall.  Slopes with rougher ground textures may prevent the thin layer of old snow from causing problems.

East through south through west aspects and most low-elevation north slopes are bare ground.

See images for old snow coverage.