Sawatch
AvalancheArden Feldman · Jan 9, 2018 · Sawatch
Weather
On 1/7/18 there were strong winds with significant snow transport near and above tree line. Snow ended in the morning and clouds cleared through the day. On 1/8/18 temperatures were unseasonably warm with light winds and mostly clear skies.
Snowpack
Around 8 inches of new snow on the morning of the 7th that was moved around a lot by the wind near and above tree line. Significant wind loading observed on southeast aspects above tree line. On northeasterly slopes near tree line, the snowpack was fully faceted under the new snow, but no obvious signs of instability were noted. The warm temperatures on the 8th moistened the surface snow in sunny areas at all elevations. Rollerballs were observed running off rocks on above tree line southerly aspects.
Avalanche
Witnessed 3 natural D2 wind slab avalanches on steep, heavily loaded, southeasterly aspects above tree line on 1/7/18. None of them dug down to deeper layers.