Sawatch

Snowpack

Becs Hodgetts · Dec 29, 2015 · Sawatch

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Weather

Cold, somewhat clear day. Clouds moved in through tour.

Snowpack

Average snow depth in this area has doubled since before Christmas storm to 80cms. Wind has also re-shaped near treeline terrain with large whales formed by drifting snow visible on north and north west slopes; minor cornice form at ridgetop in Crest bowl (east and south east), and drifted snow low into start zones. Snowpit in avalanche crown showed failure layer to be interface between recent storm snow and old snow. Failure layers were also noted within storm snow and in basal depth hoar, although avalanche did not step to ground.