Sawatch
AvalancheRoger Coit · Dec 19, 2020 · Sawatch
Weather
Steady moderate winds out of the West Southwest moving snow (not much still available) consistently but light due to denuded fetch. Significant previous loading.
Snowpack
Heavily wind redistribution onto East-facing slopes creating a deep 70-90cm soft-slab (F hard) with isolated areas of 1m+ depth, laying over a thin, hard +/- 20cm old snow surface. Wind-hardened drifting along ridgeline gives way to soft snow quickly on lee slope. We observed old (+/- 1-day old) R1D1 avalanches along Gracie's/Crest Bowl, these appeared to be soft slab.
Avalanche
R2D2 avalanche released mid-slope with a sympathetic R1D1 ~75m to the north. Slope angle measured at 30° where skier 2 entered slope (planar slope chosen for descent to retrieve lost ski from skier 1). Avalanche released mid-slope in unusual pattern (i.e. several heavily wind loaded convexities did not release and obvious "trigger points" were not involved). We were not intending to ski this slope today, made the very wrong decision to retrieve Skier 1's ski after a good bit of discussion and analysis of the slope. Our analysis was wrong and in retrospect the only correct decision would have been for Skier 1 to hike out with one ski. A very lucky day and big humbling lesson!