Sawatch

Snowpack

Becs Hodgetts · Dec 23, 2018 · Sawatch

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Weather

Skies broken with thin cloud allowing sun to penetrate and rapidly warm from 8F at 9am to 30F by noon. Gusty light-moderate winds at ridgetop.

Snowpack

We tested the new wind slab in a lee area of a near treeline NE slope. Minor cracking around skis as we tested small wind drifted areas. Snow depth was ~120cm consisting of predominately 1F facets in various stages if rounding. A notable 22cm thick 4F layer 27cm from the ground was not reactive in snowpack tests. Another quick pit below treeline (11600')von a more easterly slope, produced ECTN20 at 28cm from the ground. This snowpack was ~100cm deep, with 60cm foot pen.