Sawatch

Avalanche

Ian Hoyer · Dec 29, 2015 · Sawatch

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Weather

Clear in morning, clouded up by mid-day. Winds were pretty mild in the near and below treeline terrain we saw.

Snowpack

Snowpack below treeline is ~70cm of unsupportable facets. A slab starts to develop as soon as you get near treeline, mostly supportable, except for around bushes. Some very deep wind drifts near/above treeline, we dug in a ~150cm deep drift. ECTX, but propagated on depth hoar when additionally loaded. The ingredients are there for big Persistent Slabs in wind-drifted areas.

Avalanche

Several week old avalanches were visible along ridgeline near Cottonwood Pass.