Sawatch

Avalanche

Anonymous · Mar 31, 2018 · Sawatch

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Weather

Partly cloudy, windy, warm

Snowpack

Little to no snow below 10,500 feet. South/Southeast aspects had either fully transitioned to a spring snowpack, or were in the process at higher elevations. N/NE/E aspects above treeline held cold snow.

Avalanche

Skier-triggered R2D2 windslab at 13,400 feet on an easterly aspect just below the south ridge leading to Mount Hope. The slide was triggered while skinning up. No burials or injuries. The avalanche was approximately 150 feet wide and ran around 200 vertical feet. The crown was up to 18" deep. No other signs of instability noted leading up to this event or on the ski out.