Sawatch

Avalanche

Roger Coit · Dec 27, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

Sky- OVC Winds- at ridgeline West/Moderate, at pit site West/Light Blosnow- Light/West at ridgeline @11,500' Snow- S-1

Snowpack

HS- along Crest Bowl ridgeline varies from ~20cm on Windward to ~120cm Leeward. This area has had significant wind-loading/sculpting from the recent west winds. We dug on the lee slope, approximately 20m from ridgeline on a 20° incline. Snowpit reveals a 35cm thick, 1F hard, mid-pack slab formed by wind loading of recent storm snow. This slab failed ECTP12 and CT11SP both at 35cm up (pre-Xmas storms/new snow interface) on NSF.

Avalanche

We did not see any avalanches. We did not see any shooting cracks. We had 2x collapses while approaching the pit site.