Sawatch
SnowpackAndrea Tupy · Feb 12, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
Light snow and overcast to start the day with calm winds below tree line. Periodically the sun would peak out fo the clouds for a minute but then quickly go away. Snow varied from S-1 to S2 with periods of graupel. The winds were stronger on the ridge and peak, westerly gusts in the mid 20's. There wasn't a lot of snow left to transport as the westerly slopes were scoured but previous loading was evident.
Snowpack
Below treeline on north and northwest aspects the snowpack varied from delicately supportive to skis in canopy clearings to bottomless and unsupportive. We experienced two whumps, one with cracking and one without, both isolated to terrain features. There was no other signs of instability. We skied steep banks and pillow drops and did not experience any cracking or small pocket failures. Near treeline on north aspect in the Star F path there was dense wind slab over a rounding midpack with weak basal facets. Above treeline the westerly slopes were wind scoured and bare. We did not venture onto wind loaded areas. We noticed areas of cornice failure on the ridgeline to the west but no recent avalanches.