Sawatch
SnowpackJason Konigsberg · Apr 16, 2019 · Sawatch
Weather
Skies were mostly overcast with a few breaks of sun. Winds were light even at 13k feet.
Snowpack
Snow surface froze solidly overnight in the area I traveled which was 11k feet to about 13k feet. Slide for life was a greater concern than avalanche hazard. I was able to trigger a few very small, harmless, loose wet avalanches on an easterly above-treeline slope. By afternoon, on my exit, below treeline snow surfaces softened up including north facing. Only about the top 6 inches was moist with very hard layers underneath. Signs of instability were minimal with just a few very small rollerballs, not gathering mass out of rocky areas. Northerly slopes near to above treeline were dry with sheltered snow in a few areas but mostly wind-worked snow surfaces.