Sawatch

Avalanche

Becs Hodgetts · Feb 21, 2020 · Sawatch

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Weather

Started out cool and warmed rapidly. Never a hint of wind which is extremely unusual for this area. A few clouds built during the day.

Snowpack

Below treeline north aspects HS ranges form 150cm to 2m. Snow surafce stayed cold throughout tour. Any south or east slope snow surfaces were moist/wet from 10am. Snow pit tests showed no results with the exception of basal depth hoar (55cm thick) which we saw PST55/160end@55cm 2/21/2020. Snow was supportable to boot pen (10cm) which is also unusual for this area. Near treeline snow depth varied from none along ridge to 130 on north slopes. Snowpack here had a 10-20cm thick wind drifted slab over predominately facets below. We did not dig a formal pit.

Avalanche

Two wet loose avalanches on southeast and north aspect s above treeline. One recent Persistent Slab avalanche on an easterly aspect above treeline.