Sawatch

Quick report

Ben Pritchett · Jan 26, 2026 · Sawatch

View on map

Weather

Cold. Blue skies with strong west to northwest winds.

Snowpack

I found drifts in the 2 to 5 feet thick range below the ridgelines. These drifts were very stiff, stubborn, and resting on a variety of weak layers below. Around the margins of the drifts, I could occasionally trigger a collapse and crack, though slabs were too stiff to slide on the 30 to 35 degree slopes below me. Where the wind has not drifted stiff snow, I found no new slab in the storm snow, only about a foot of soft snow above the January drought layer.

Avalanche

I saw a few recent Wind Slab avalanches from this weekend on easterly-facing terrain.