Sawatch
AvalancheJohn Mackinnon · Dec 2, 2018 · Sawatch
Weather
Broken skies, light southwest winds, cold temperatures.
Snowpack
A quick test pit at 11,200 on a west aspect revealed an HS of 60 cm. The top 30 cm was storm snow that has accumulated since 11/23. It was right-side up with F Hard snow trending to 4F Hard snow. The bottom 30 cm consisted of facets that formed earlier this month. The bottom 30 cm was consistently F hard. That being said, the skiing was generally supportive (ski pen of 15 cm) but the observed snowpack structure is poor with obvious strong over weak laying (boot pen of 55 cm). Observed lots of evidence of previous wind-loading and scouring near and above treeline. Large cornices are already in place on the east-facing slopes above Buckeye Lake. No snow was moving around today--even in the alpine.
Avalanche
Saw an old small (D1) slab avalanche that most likely occurred around 11/24. The slide is a frequent flyer during natural cycles. It is a convex roll right above the Buckeye Creek on an east facing slope below TL. I also saw the remnants of 3 older slab avalanches on east aspects above TL ( D1.5 x 3). They were mostly blown in. Probably occurred around 11/24 too.