Sawatch

Snowpack

John Mackinnon ยท Dec 10, 2013

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Weather

BKN skies with gusty westerly winds. Moderate blowing snow at ridge tops and some light blowing snow BTL. Airtemp of -11 c at 1230 at 11,500 ft. Cold!

Snowpack

Observed numerous shooting cracks and rumbling collapses on north aspects BTL and east aspects NTL. Some of the cracks propagated over 20 m. HS BTL averaged 45 cm with deeper drifts in wind affected areas. Bottom 20 cm are 2.0-3.0 mm facets. Ski pen averaged 35 cm BTL. ATL the SNPX was super variable but was much more supportive. HS ranged from 20 cm to over a meter. Hard slabs observable ATL below the Zion-Buckeye Ridge. Winds continuously moving snow at ridge tops.