Sawatch

Avalanche

Mike Wallace · Apr 24, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

25 deg F, winds northerly 10-15 mph, partly cloudy with small squalls rolling through.

Snowpack

Seemed quite variable in depths on all aspects. However fairly consistent structure of new snow over 3-5cm ice and crust layers; some of these had sandwiched the previous snow between them (PP/DF grains, see profile. Rest of structure down to 35-40cm from ground a mix of 4F+/1F facets. Reactive interface was where the 1F facets sat on 4-5mm FC/DH.

Avalanche

Old wind slabs visible on all lee aspects and some NW facing crossloads. The northerly aspects showing evidence of those slabs stepping into the basal FC and DH.