Sawatch

Avalanche

Rohan Roy ยท Mar 28, 2014

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Weather

Patchy cloud cover with occasional snow showers S -1. Significant warming when sun penetrated cloud cover. Light wind below treeline, moderate and steady NW wind creating cornice and windslab at and immediately below ridgeline above treeline.

Snowpack

Three pits were dug to the ground on east facing 35 degree slopes at treeline, total height of snow = 125-135cm. Pits showed 25 cm storm snow on top of MF crust (contains dust layer) on E and SE aspects and on top of surface facets on NE aspects. Hand pits and ski cuts on test slopes showed good bonding to old snow with no sloughing or storm slab propagation evident below or near treeline. Snow surface became more dense with sun penetration throughout the day. Compression tests showed moderate to hard fractures on two layers: Surface facets below MF crust and on top of depth hoar approx 30cm above ground. Both fractures were Q2-Q3. Rounding depth hoar was visible as large crystals in bottom 30cm of snowpack, with density of 4F - 1F.

Avalanche

Small (D1) surface slough observed on SE aspect across basin, starting below cornice. No avalanche activity or signs of instability on route traveled.