Sawatch

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Nov 28, 2018 · Sawatch

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Weather

Snowed lightly (S-1 to S1) during the time I was out. Winds were calm below treeline. Obscured sky with limited visibility. Snow height is about 18 inches below treeline and 30 inches near treeline.

Snowpack

I observed cracking and collapsing today on northeast and east-facing slopes below treeline. Most cracking was around my skis and not large shooting cracks. But all cracks went down to basal weak layer. Storm snow has settled and feels very dense. It was difficult to break trail and skiing was somewhat unsupportable. Collapses I heard were mostly small but I did experience one thundering collapse in an open meadow. ECTP10 on an east-facing below treeline slope---Near treeline I looked at a recent, previously reported avalanche. This avalanche broke on the recently buried facets that are now midpack. The faceted layer is fist hard with harder faceted layers below. ECTP14 near the old avalanche.