Sawatch
AvalancheMichael Tranovich · Jan 22, 2023 · Sawatch
Weather
Trailhead at 730a, 19F, Sunny, light wind gusts from the northwest. End of tour around noon, 27F, no wind, sunny.
Snowpack
Snowpack in this area is extremely thin and wind affected. Pretty much wind slab, wind drifts, sastrugi, or nothing. Dug a rough pit on SE facing slope at 12k ft. 40 to 45cm to ground. Windslab over a little storm snow over a hard slab which rests on a fair amount of depth hoar. See photos.
Avalanche
A few very small R1D1 wind slabs viewed in steep, rocky, north facing terrain, near treeline, viewed across Sacramento gulch. Also looks like some windslab broke loose in isolated south facing terrain around 30 degrees near the mine on Pennsylvania, at treeline. No where for it to run given surrounding low angle. Driving back north towards Hoosier pass viewed what appeared to be multiple slides on the most southern, south facing portion of Hoosier Ridge. Couldnt get a great view though most Eastern portion appeared to be a cornice fall, above treeline.