Sawatch

Avalanche

John Mackinnon ยท Jan 19, 2016

View on map

Weather

SCT skies trending to BKN in the late afternoon. Light westerly winds and very light snow (S-1) fell intermittently.

Snowpack

HS of 110 on a N aspect below TL. 30 cm of storm snow since January 7th resting on 80 cm of facets. Lots of evidence of previous blowing snow near and above TL. No slab observed in sheltered glades on northerly aspects below TL.

Avalanche

Observed 5 slab avalanches on S and SE aspects near and above TL between Mt. Zion and Delmonica Gulch. Seems to be a pattern from Leadville north to Fremont Pass. All the slides looked recent--as in the last 72 hours--and were just confined to recent wind drifted snow.