Sawatch

Avalanche

Janine Prout · Jan 7, 2023 · Sawatch

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Weather

Traveled on E and SE and SW aspects BTL. In the a.m. clouds where scattered with light snowfall. Clearing throughout the day and then clouds increasing after 3 p,m. Not much active wind loading observed and calm to light winds. Warm air temps, 0 C

Snowpack

Overall height of snow observed was 65-70 cm on a E- SE facing slope, BTL. Found approx. 17 cm of F hard new snow over a 4F slab that was buried at the end of December over a 25 cm 1F slab formed early Dec. Lower 34cm of the snowpack found faceted snow . Extended column test resulted in a ECTX however CT results had a CTH 23 down 17 cm at the early Dec. snow layer. Experienced large whumphing and shooting cracks when breaking trail. Otherwise the snowpack seemed to be getting slightly more supportable.

Avalanche

Observed a natural avalanche on the steep N - NW facing slopes off the NW ridgeline of Mt. Arkansas. at 12,800'