Sawatch
SnowpackAndrea Tupy · Feb 6, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
It was cold and overcast with high ridge top winds and obvious snow transport up high. However, below tree line was relatively calm with just a few gusts to rattle the new snow off the trees and near tree line I experienced consistently moderate west winds with light snow transport. It was lightly snowing when I started mid morning and then stopping and partially clearing with moments of sun by 1pm.
Snowpack
a foot of very low density new snow (6.5%) sits atop a snowpack that is becoming more supportive to skis. The snow is supportive to skiing and skinning but boot pen is still nearly to ground. Near tree line on an east slope just below the ridge I was able to detect a 2 cm, 1 finger hard, layer 46 cm down that had weak facets underneath it. The facets in this layer seem to be getting smaller, rounding, and slowly gaining strength. I had an ECTP13 on a larger faceted layer lower in the snowpack. However, as I was skinning around I had no signs of instability. Upon digging below treeline on an east aspect I had an ECTX and no signs of instability aside from new snow sloughing.