Sawatch
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Dec 3, 2023 · Sawatch
Weather
Snowing and windy with not much visibility. Temperature about 5 degrees warmer on Sunday over Saturday. I measured 7" at .7" water at the study plot for a settled storm total. It was hard to tell how much snow had fallen above the road and in avalanche terrain. My best guess is 14".
Snowpack
The snowpack is quite simple on northerly and easterly-facing slopes near above treeline. A thick slab up to one-finger hard, rests on very soft, faceted snow and thin crusts that are easily collapsible. Avalanches on slopes over 30 degrees are nearly certain. On slopes where the slab is cohesive and stiffened by the wind, I found a 50 to 60 cm thick slab over 10 to 20 cm of basal facets. In most places thin melt-freeze crust is present in the middle of the facets. Below treeline conditions are a little different as the wind has played less of a role and the storm snow is still relatively soft with disconnected slabs. There isn't an abrupt switch from BTL to NTL as you ascend (or descend), it's more of gradient, meaning the upper end of BTL is much more reactive than lower down.
Avalanche
I triggered four avalanches, three of which were remotely triggered. Two of the avalanches were below treeline and two were near treeline. The character of the avalanches were different at these two elevation bands. Near treeline, cracks were running very far, maybe 1000 ft. It was hard to see. Below treeline cracks were much shorter, the slab was much softer and avalanches, although still triggered remotely, were closer to the trigger.