Sawatch

Avalanche

Graham Kane · Feb 28, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

Temperatures were cold @ ~10-15?F with calm to light winds. No blowing snow, and no precipitation. This was observed at ~13:45 at 11,600 on a north facing slope.

Snowpack

Probing along the route revealed an average HS of 80-100cm. The February 3rd storm snow can be found ~20cm below the surface and remains a 1F hard slab 25cm in thickness in much of the area. AIARE 2 students had repeatable CTM (17 and 15) SC at the base of this layer. Additionally they had an ECTP 17 at the same interface.

Avalanche

The only avalanches viewed were older small cornice breaks along the ridge between Mt Zion and the Sangree Hut (see photo)