Sawatch
SnowpackBecs Hodgetts · Mar 20, 2018 · Aspen
Weather
Cold and breezy when I left valley floor. Very gusty near treeline, but had calmed by the time I made it to ridgeline and the sun was trying to break through clouds.
Snowpack
Snow pit showed surprisingly weak snow on east slopes near treeline. HS 96 cm in comparison to average ~160cm this time over the last 3 years. Hand hardness significantly less when comparing last 3 years observations. Mostly facetted dry snowcover with no results in snowpack tests. Notable pronounced dust/dirt layer 34 cm above the ground. Beeler cornice is of comparable size to past years, especially on the south end. Tracks and lower pitches above the road show small trees and rocks, indicating volume in track is much lower than usual. Burmley snotel showing SWE at 86% of median.