Sawatch

Snowpack

Brad Sawtell ยท Dec 31, 2010

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Weather

Cold. Measured a high of -19C (about 5F). Mostly W and NW light to moderate winds. Some stronger gusts. Lots of blowing snow near tree line. Could not see very well at all above treeline.

Snowpack

Wind is creating a fresh shallow slab on the surface. Cracking was common, though uneventful. Probed depths at the upper end of the near TL elevation band ranged from 95 to 145 cm's. Dense mid pack. On southerly aspects, could feel three distinct thin crusts first being just below the newly formed surface slab. Way too cold to dig a formal snowpit.