Sawatch

Snowpack

At TH, all facets with about 2cm of new snow on top. Average HS 40-50 cm. No wind effect and no slabs. Facets generally 2mm or less, not as large as observed in other zones. Snowpack transitioned quickly at treeline. About 5cm new snow on top of thin, breakable wind crust, on top of all facets. Average HS 75cm. Just above treeline, snowpack became quite variable with lots of wind effect including sastrugi, wind etching, hard supportable slab, weaker unsupportable slab that broke easily into facets (ie. trap doors). There were isolated areas of fresh soft wind slab generally 10-20 cm thick and up to 30 cm in small areas. It would crack under skis, but no propagation - not very reactive. Weather: -6C at TH, no wind. Skies Clear -> Few. Above treeline, -12C, winds NW at 5-10mph with gusts to 20 mph. Low snow transport - not much available to move at these lower wind speeds.