3/1/2024 Field Report - Aspen
Report Information
A large avalanche cycle took place this past week at high elevations around Independence Pass. Most avalanches had two distinct crowns likely breaking on a mid-February interface and stepping down to the early February persistent weak layer with a few avalanches stepping down deeper to early January layers. Currently, the February 2 layer of buried surface hoar and facets is the persistent weak layer of concern buried around one to three feet below the snow surface in this area.
Independence Pass
Independence Pass trailhead up to Independence Lake trailhead on snowmobiles, ski touring around the trailhead then back down to Lincoln Creek and up to Grizzly Reservoir and back down to the Independence Pass trailhead.
Avalanche
A widespread avalanche cycle took place in the Roaring Fork River Headwaters and Lincoln Creek drainages during the last storm. Most avalanches were large (D2) with possibly two or three very large (D3) avalanches observed. Some of the avalanches ran early in the storm as the crowns were almost completely filled in with wind-drifted snow while many of the avalanches ran at the end of the storm or after it ended during the strong wind event as the crowns were barely filled in. Almost every avalanche had two to three distinct crowns within the first hundred or so feet of the initial release of the avalanche as they stepped down to deeper persistent weak layers. Avalanches observed around the Independence Lake Trailhead coded in this observation. Avalanches observed lower down Independence Pass and up Lincoln Creek coded in separate observations.
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Date | # | Elev | Asp | Type | Trig | SizeR | SizeD | Problem Type |
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | E | HS | N | R3 | D3 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,300 ft
Area Description
East-facing slopes directly above Independence Lake Trailhead.
Avalanche Comments
The avalanche crossed Independence Pass road burying it in around 2 meters of debris. |
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02/27/2024
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2 | >TL | E | HS | N | R3 | D2 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Area Description
Slopes above Independence Lake Trailhead |
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02/29/2024
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1 | >TL | NE | C | N | R1 | D1 | Cornice Fall | |
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Date and Time
02/29/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
1,200 ft
Area Description
Straight north of Peak 12812 south of HWY 82. |
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02/27/2024
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1 | TL | W | SS | N | R3 | D2 | ||
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
11,700 ft
Area Description
Below HWY 82 on the last stretch before Independence Pass summit. |
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02/27/2024
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2 | >TL | SE | HS | N | R3 | D2 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
11,800 ft
Area Description
Linkins Lake Trail avalanche paths
Avalanche Comments
Fracture line profile done on the looker's left avalanche. |
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | NE | HS | N | R2 | D2.5 | ||
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,300 ft
Area Description
Northeast-facing slope directly above Linkins Lake.
Avalanche Comments
Likely triggered by cornice fall. |
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02/26/2024
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1 | >TL | SE | SS | N | R2 | D2 | ||
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Date and Time
02/26/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,600 ft
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | SE | HS | N/y | R3 | D2 | ||
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,300 ft
Area Description
Rockband directly north of Linkins Lake
Avalanche Comments
Likely sympathetically triggered by a large avalanche above. |
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | SE | HS | N | R3 | D2.5 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,700 ft
Area Description
Southeast-facing slopes of Peak 13,186 north of Linkins Lake |
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02/26/2024
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1 | >TL | E | HS | N | R2 | D3 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/26/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,400 ft
Area Description
Independence Mountain, the first bowl south of the summit on east-facing slopes
Avalanche Comments
Debris ran to the creek |
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02/26/2024
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2 | >TL | E | HS | N | R2 | D2 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/26/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Area Description
Independence Mountain, first and second bowl south of the summit above Independence Creek |
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | NE | HS | N | R3 | D2.5 | ||
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,600 ft
Area Description
South of Independence Mountain, Peak 12732 |
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02/27/2024
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1 | >TL | E | HS | N | R2 | D3 | Persistent Slab | |
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Date and Time
02/27/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,400 ft
Area Description
East-facing side of Peak 12580 just west of Independence Mountain. |
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02/26/2024
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1 | >TL | NE | SS | N | R1 | D1.5 | ||
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Date and Time
02/26/2024 -
12:00am
(estimated)
Start Zone Elevation
12,000 ft
Area Description
Northeast gully off the summit of Independence Mountain
Avalanche Comments
Likely triggered by cornice fall |
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Snowpack
The average height of snow is around 130-160cm deep near and above the treeline near the summit of Independence Pass. The February 2 persistent weak layer composed of facets and intact surface hoar is still reactive in snowpack tests while the early January layer is starting to blend in with the deeply buried persistent weak layers near the ground and becoming less concerning. East and southeast-facing slopes had multiple buried crust/facet combinations that are concerning and the layer several avalanches failed on. A fracture line profile near the flank of one southeast-facing natural avalanche showed three distinct crusts with facets and even some surface hoar on top of each crust and the avalanche had three distinct crowns as it appears to have stepped down to each one of these crusts without stepping down to the depth hoar.
Weather
Mostly clear with notable cloud coverage to the west moving over the Elks throughout the day. Light westerly winds gusting moderate at higher elevations with notable snow transport observed along ridgelines.