Sawatch

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Nov 11, 2020 · Sawatch

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Weather

Wind loading was very effective near treeeline. The winds may have been to strong above but I didn't travel there.

Snowpack

I observed cracking and collapsing mainly in the newly wind-drifted snow. This 6 to 12 inch slab was reactive, failing on low-density snow from our prior storm. I was able to trigger small mini slabs on wind-loaded test slopes, some remotely. Some of the whumphs sounded deeper, collapsing basal facets, but I didn't observe any avalanches or cracks to the ground.---In more sheltered northerly NTL terrain I got a result of ECTP2 several times on the basal facets. Snow depth in these areas is 35 to 45 cm with the basal facet layer consisting of 2 mm grains and 12 cm thick.---Also of note, the basal facet layer also exists on shady below treeline slopes, but the slab is much thinner with only isolated slopes wind loaded at these low elevations.