Sawatch

Snowpack

Becs Hodgetts · Feb 15, 2020 · Sawatch

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Weather

Somewhat sunny with very gusty winds. Cold.

Snowpack

Snowpack is deep relative to this area. Below treeline varied from 40cm to 110cm. Yesterdays sun has left a zipper crust on the surface near and below treeline. Above treeline at the pass, snow had been ravaged by wind and only north-east-south hold continuous snowcover. Wind drifts were mostly inpenitrable by skis and varied from 10cm to 50cm thick. A snowpit in a sheltered near treeline slope produced hard results at basal facets 50cm from the ground despite the presence of two pronounced, decomposing melt freeze crusts. Only two small avalanches observed on an east feature below treeline, but exposed to windloading. Below treeline southeast slopes lack a slab.