Sawatch
AvalancheBrandon Levy, Brian Lazar · May 1, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
Increasing southwest winds and cool temperature marked the morning on the westside of Independence Pass. The cloud cover also generally increased with dark overcast observed to the southwest.
Snowpack
When we arrived at the Upper Lost Man Trailhead the snow surface near-treeline was already moist at 1030. As we climbed into above treeline terrain the snow surface was dry. The upper snowpack in the Waterhole #1 start zone is composed of stout melt-freeze crust and ice layers. The lower snowpack has seen water and is homogenous rounding faceted grains. There is a dust layer under last week's storm snow. Overall the snow in the avalanche paths above SH82 is thin, patchy or non-existent.
Avalanche
Several loose wet avalanches up to D1 were observed on all aspects down to the most recent dust layer. One older slab avalanche was observed on the northeast side of Green Mountain probably from a week or so ago--this avalanche is coded in a seperate observation.