Sawatch

Avalanche

Ian Hoyer ยท Feb 17, 2016

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Weather

Warm temperatures and clear skies. Light-moderate winds at treeline.

Snowpack

The snowpack was supportable on skis on all slopes I traveled on (below/near/above treeline). Very low and sunny slopes had water running through a thin (1ft) snowpack, but didn't see any evidence of Loose Wet avalanches. Snowpack near treeline remained dry on all aspects. Below treeline on most slopes a thin crust had formed on top of the recent snow. The snow surface was wet on any slope exposed to sun by around 2pm when I returned to the trailhead. Found a very deep (~2m) snowpack near treeline on a windloaded north facing slope. A fracture propagated on facets in the upper pack in an ECT. Depth hoar is still very soft and weak, beginning to round, but only barely. Structure is still very questionable.

Avalanche

Saw several old avalanches that likely ran around February 4th.