Sawatch
AvalancheBen Pritchett · Nov 7, 2024 · Sawatch
Weather
Foggy, light snow, and strong to extreme east to northeast winds.
Snowpack
"Upside down." Wind and warming temperatures were creating a denser snow surface above lighter less dense snow from early in the storm. Dense snow was drifting and compacting between rocks and trees above the forests or in openings between the forest. Because of the fog I could only see a short distance into Gondola Bowl, but the easterly winds ripping up Gondola Bowl left pencil-hard patches of snow amongst the exposed boulders. I did not see a consistent snowpack in the small amount of terrain I could see.
Avalanche
None seen. No visibility in the large paths along the Continental Divide. The easterly winds mostly stripped the highway paths.