Sawatch
SnowpackRich Rogers Drew Gibson · Dec 16, 2023 · Sawatch
Weather
Warm, clear and mostly calm.
Snowpack
We traveled on W-N-E aspects near and above treeline. In many places, we experienced rumbling collapses and shooting cracks communicating upwards of 70 feet away. On north and east aspects, we were not surprised to find a hard over softer snow structure with mostly easy to moderate propagating snowpack tests failing on basal facets. Steep test slopes above treeline were difficult to cause failures on due to the very hard wind-packed surface slab bridging over the weak layer. Conditions were similar near treeline, but the wind-packed slab was thinner and when we punched through it with a ski tail widespread collapsing and cracking were observed. While traveling below treeline, skis would sink to almost boot-top deep. There were very few places where a supportive slab was found but it was isolated in this particular area.