Sawatch

Avalanche

Skylar Schalit · Mar 28, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

Monarch Crest South, NE Aspect, 11.8k ft Sunny, mid thirties with strong sustained winds ESE.

Snowpack

We stuck to the trees and were not on a similar aspect to the slide, so chose not to dig a pit.

Avalanche

Monarch Crest S, Gondola Bowl NE Aspect, 11.8k ft. We were quite a distance away and got more of a magnificent show and photos than any hard data. We saw no skiers or fresh tracks anywhere near the bowl or avalanche and assuming the accumulating snow drift coupled with the morning sun was enough to send it au nanturale. It appeared to fracture directly above the crag and continued to propagate and slide down either side of the crag. From the looks of it, it may have stepped down to persistent slab on the N side of the crag. It was incredible to see!