Sawatch
AvalanchePaul K · Oct 15, 2023 · Sawatch
Weather
37 degrees at the time of the slide. winds from the North West at 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. clear sky through the day.
Snowpack
Small amount of basal facets from storms earlier in October. 30-60 cm slab of recent wind-loaded storm snow from last week. Surface hoar in spots.
Avalanche
Skier 2 had reached the ridgeline and was probing in the north-facing slope, south of the saddle, just below the ridgeline. They remotely triggered the avalanche about 10 feet below them while Skier 1 was skinning up a NE aspect on the other side of the gully from the avalanche. The avalanche propagated approximately 100 yards across from the rocks on skiers' right to the gully on skiers' left. It then ran about 300 feet before stopping. The starting slope angle was around 38 degrees. It was remotely triggered from a 15-degree angle near the ridge top. The elevation of the crown was approximately 12,800 feet.