Sawatch
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Jan 11, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
A few clouds in the morning gave way to clear skies for the rest of the day. No wind except for a light, cold breeze at 13k feet.
Snowpack
Traveled from about 11k to 13k feet on north-facing slopes below treeline and east and southeast near to above. The snowpack was supportable to skis at all elevations. Below treeline the snowpack has the softest slab and is mostly faceted. On a southeast-facing 28 degree slope I got a slopewide collapse. In a snowpit I found fist-hard facets on a crust 40 cm above the ground. Above this weak layer, the slab is 40 cm thick and up to pencil hard directly above the weak layer. It is progressively harder from top to bottom. Lots of surface hoar on the surface up to 25 mm in size. The surface hoar is mostly lying down and does not look problematic for the future. Regardless the surface is faceting and will be a weak layer buried by the next storm.
Avalanche
Two older avalanche observed in the West Tennessee Creek area. One older avalanche observed in Homestake Creek.