Sawatch

Snowpack

Monarch Pass observation. Skied backcountry both Sat and Sun afternoon. Regular wind eddy at pass on Saturday with winds NE. Winds Sunday were coming from south thru pass. About 50 inches of snow. Facets were further along than last week and there are a few crusts within bottom section of facets. New snow from this cycle is sitting on a light crust in some areas, and wind-firm snow in other areas. Mid-pack is not developed on north aspects below treeline as is easy to sink to the bottom even with all the new snow. Very dense slab near treeline and above yesterday. Lots of cracks, and lots of collapsing. East facing bowl (on east side of peak with summer chairlift at pass) had a natural that went, fracture was 24". Could not tell how far it propogated with conditions. Temp kept rising thru the day on Sunday. New snow was getting warmer/denser over the snow that fell Sat. Graupel was mixing in with snow early afternoon and accumulating on surface enough to notice. Dug pit last saturday on E aspect at 11,600 and found mostly facets, again with some light crusts within. At that time slab on top was not as developed and was shallow. Probably about 28" in pit then.