Sawatch

Avalanche

Ian Hoyer ยท Dec 31, 2016

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Weather

Beautiful clear day. Warm, but with an occasional biting wind out of the west near treeline. No snow transport visible off the peaks.

Snowpack

Sunny slopes are starting to melt out, or at least develop stout sun-crusts and drainage. Shadier slopes are not changing as dramatically, but snowpack tests results indicate increasing stability. West and South faces in the alpine are predominately bare. Obvious wind-drifts on E faces.

Avalanche

Saw a number of avalanches, all of which seem likely to have run during the wind event early this week. Mostly appeared to be small Wind Slab avalanches, with one larger Persistent Slab.