Sawatch

Snowpack

N. Face Missouri Mtn - Sawatch Range 13,500, N Aspect, 32deg slope dug a pit approx. 4feet deep. isolated a column using two probes and 3mm cord. upon removal of one probe, a 3" thick wind slab popped completely out, weak layer was likely surface hoar. Below that 3" windslap was approx. 24inches of well consolidated powder that did not react after the standard 30 strikes of the compression test. At approximately 30inches there is a very hard (knife point) layer that the entire column slid on using light pressure during shovel shear. E aspects in the Missouri Gulch basin showed significant wet slide point releases at 12:00pm Saturday 5/7