Sawatch

Avalanche

Andrea Tupy · Dec 20, 2020 · Sawatch

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Weather

It was partly cloudy with gusty winds from the southwest. Wind transport filled in my skin track along the ridge during the hour and half I was up there. I noticed surface hoar in protected areas below tree line.

Snowpack

The top 12 to 15 cm of new snow from the most recent storm was on a 17 to 22 cm layer of 4 finger rounds that has created a slab over weak faceting crystals below. The interface between the slab and the faceted layers is where propagation resulted during extended column tests.

Avalanche

I noticed a very small SS pocket on old snow that looks to be skier triggered within the last 24 hours. It was BTL at 11,400' in Gracie's Path above Hwy 50.