Sawatch
AvalancheIan Hoyer ยท Dec 31, 2015
Weather
Chilly day, a few snow flurries but mostly clear. Calm winds including a brief foray up to ridgeline.
Snowpack
Snowpack near and below treeline was variable. In some places it was completely supportable to a snowmobile, in others, you would frequently punch through into basal facets. Snowpack was much deeper near Hancock than near St Elmo and Tincup (1+ meters vs ~50-70cm). 2 meter thick wind drifts near treeline. ~30cm of well developed depth hoar at base of snowpack everywhere we traveled. Slab thickness and stiffness differences are the controlling factor for instabilities.
Avalanche
Small avalanche below treeline above snowmobile trail to Hancock. Triggered from below by a snowmobiler only 5 feet off the packed trail.