Sawatch
SnowpackBo Torrey · Nov 15, 2020 · Sawatch
Weather
Mostly cloudy skies after 10:45AM. Light to moderate west winds. Noticeable wind transport along the upper ridges.
Snowpack
Snow depth averaged 30-50cm throughout northerly facing terrain in Ptarmigan Creek area. All but the most sheltered areas where wind effected. The east aspects in the area did hold 10-15cm of faceted snow on the ground with a cohesive slab above it in wind effected areas. I experienced several localized collapses on north and northeast slopes. In one stability test on an east aspect near treeline I had ECTP6 on the slab/ facet interface 15cm up from the ground. The wind had it's way with the upper reaches of Cottonwood Pass and Ptarmigan. Nearly all the snow that sat on the west and northwest aspects was stripped down to rock.