Sawatch

Snowpack

Janine Prout · Feb 27, 2018 · Sawatch

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Weather

Warm temperatures, clear skies, light winds WNW

Snowpack

Pit dug near meadow below pass bowl on Monarch pass on a ESE facing slope below tree line around 11,200 ft. Average HS was 120 cm, encountered wind loaded NE facing slopes with a varied HS up to 255 cm below ridge line. In our pit we found a PWL ground to 56 cm that was generally F hardness with a 1F-4F ~60 cm slab above. Multiple compression tests resulted in consistent scores of CTM Q1 failure at ground and interface between facets and slab. ECT showed no results in breaking at upper layers. Skiing was good on north facing slopes below tree line.