Sawatch

Avalanche

Will Barrett · Dec 12, 2021 · Sawatch

View on map

Weather

Clear sunny day with moderate wind SW, 22F, very little snow transport. It was very windy the day before and most of the snow had already blown around.

Snowpack

There is a new storm slab (wind slab in places) from the storm on 12/9. It is overlying a very weak base of facets and surface hoar on NE - N facing terrain. Storm total was 11".

Avalanche

West end of Crest Bowl at summit of Monarch Pass avalanched but stopped 150' from highway. R1/D1.5, I believe that it was a natural avalanche that occurred the night of 12/10 or early morning of 12/11.