Sawatch

Avalanche

Jordan Lipp · Apr 23, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

Sunny and warm with little wind.

Snowpack

Between 2:30 and 3:30 pm, I experienced seven collapses of the snow, most accompanied with whumphing noises. All were north and northeast aspect, with slope angles between 5 and 15 degrees, between 10,900 and 11,500'. Did not have any collapsing or whumphing noises once above 11,500' / treeline. Wet on north aspects below treeline, and very wet on the short east aspect. Snowpack was a bit scary, soggy and wet until above treeline.

Avalanche

I witnessed numerous point releases on Mt. Arkansas (north side of compass) and Traver Peak (south side of compass), but no wet slab releases at any point along Fremont Pass.