Sawatch
AvalancheJeremy Primmer · Dec 9, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
Winds picked up during the day, moderate wind loading observed all day long. Snowed for a brief period and only picked up 1cm of new snow.
Snowpack
I found 3” of new snow at the trailhead that had drifted into slabs 6” to 36” deep near the treeline and above. Near the treeline and below on sheltered slopes, I found preserved buried surface hoar, which caused shooting cracks 100’ long when it collapsed. I remotely triggered a small avalanche on an east-facing slope near the treeline, and I suspect that this surface hoar was the culprit. I did not find any on that slope, but I think it all collapsed and I was able to find some on a similar slope close by. At this sight, there is a melt-freeze crust that is helping to bridge the weight of the new snow, but when I did an extended column test, it propagated on depth hoar at the ground with light force. Above the treeline, the snow was not as reactive, and I could only get short 10’ cracks when testing small wind-loaded slopes. I could not find any preserved surface hoar above the treeline.
Avalanche
Remotely triggered while approaching the slope from the side.