Sawatch

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Feb 16, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

No wind at 12k ridgetops. Clear skies and warm.

Snowpack

I traveled below and near treeline (10600 to 12000 ft) and did not see any signs of wet avalanche activity. Northerly aspects are staying cold and easterly aspects have a few inches of moist snow over a hard crust...One quick snowpack test in a north-facing open area at about 11,600 ft resulted in an ECTN~15 on FC 40cms from the surface...A large north-facing start zone had 2 to 4 inches of faceting snow over a very hard wind-hardened layer. Maybe a future concern with a large load.