Sawatch

Avalanche

Becs Hodgetts · Apr 16, 2017 · Sawatch

Weather

Bluebird morning winds high clouds building during the day. Light west winds at ridge top. 37F at 11am at 12000'

Snowpack

South and east slopes below treeline are patchy or melted out to around 11000'. Snow is still present where January avalanches ran or gully features. A good freeze overnight kept south slopes cool and easy travel up to 11am. By 11am the upper 5-10cm were soft at 12000'. North slopes above treeline harbored very firm wind-buffed surfaces variying from ~50-100cm deep. Northeast slopes showed an obvious red dust layer on the surface and were sot to ~10cm ski pen even at 12 500'. Below 11000' north slopes varied from several feet thick wind drifts to 50cm-1m deep on more exposed slopes. Snowpack was moist throughout with wet snow on the surface by mid-day. Ski pen was to ground around rock outcroppings, this snow was still reluctant to move pushing from skis. Most of these avalanche paths ran during the Jan 9/10 cycles and now do not hold snow volumes sufficient to reach the highway as a loose Wet avalanche. Wet Slab avalanches appear unlikely as even snow at the base of snowpack has been through several melt-freeze cycles, and comprised of 1F clustered melt forms.

Avalanche

Several very small loose wet avalanches and rollerballs noted beginning from rocks bands on steep slopes near and below treeline. East through north aspects.