Sawatch

Avalanche

Rich Rogers · Dec 29, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

Windy, Blowing snow at all Elev. Sky cover OVC-BKN-OVC. Started snowing again around 14:30 NTL.

Snowpack

I cross paths with a snowshoer and they mentioned the experienced "cracks that shot out sometimes while walking" and "you could hear the snow settling" (Collapsing). Snowshoe pen. est. 20-40cm. I, myself, did not experience cracking or collapsing on skis. Nor did I observe the cracks the snowshoer reported. While skinning off existing track, ski pen. was about 10cm. Snow felt supportive. I did not break through anywhere off skin track. Skiing was good on ESE 20º glade @ 11,400ft.

Avalanche

Looked high and low, none observed. Surrounding peaks in that area have been hammered by winds.