Sawatch

Avalanche

Rich Rogers · May 9, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

Overcast-obscure ATL. Better visibility BTL. Light flurries most of the AM. late morning to mid-day thickness of clouds increased and snowfall increased. Felt like winter ATL, light wind blowing but no snow transport observed. Much warmer with drop in elev.

Snowpack

10-14" NTL-AT, 5-9" BTL, N-E-SE. Soft and cold snow during ascent from Hwy 91. NTL snow became slightly stiffer. Difference in ski penetration wasn't really noticeable. As we descended, new snow started to stick to bottom of skis NTL and mostly BTL on easterly aspect. good skiing.

Avalanche

No instabilities observed during ascent. Only found storm/wind instability just above small NE facing cornice ATL. 10-12in slab propagated from intentional ski cut. Approx. 3-5ft back from edge of small cornice. 40-60ft shooting cracks that released pieces of slab to break off, then slide off small cornice causing new snow under cornice to propagate and slide a short(30-40ft) distance. Propagation of new softer snow under cornice was further than initial shooting cracks from ski cut. SS-AS-R1-D1-I.