Sawatch

Avalanche

Katie Konigsberg · Jan 30, 2017 · Vail & Summit County

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Weather

Sunny, warm, light to moderate winds from the northwest

Snowpack

Dug snowpit on a northerly aspect below Ball Mountain near treeline. Performed an extended column test and received no results. Caused a collapse and long-running shooting cracks in a westerly-facing shallow snowpack area (maybe 1 - 2 feet deep) over rocky terrain near treeline.

Avalanche

Observed four small avalanches - three on southerly aspects and one on a southeast aspect just above treeline. Looked fairly fresh but we weren't too close to them so I'm not sure.