Sawatch
AvalancheLogan Cooper · Dec 11, 2022 · Sawatch
Weather
Clear weather with strong winds from the west. Minimal cloud cover, and snow was being blown from the western slopes of the peaks to the eastern slopes.
Snowpack
Measured on a ESE-facing slope, approximately 25 degree angle at 11,000 feet of elevation. There was 6 inches of powder on top of a crust approximately one inch thick, followed by 2 feet of low-density "sugar snow" on top of fairly well-packed snow.
Avalanche
Small, natural avalanche at 10,800' on a east-facing slope, approxmately 55 degrees. Top 6 inches of snow slid, with a crack approximately 10 feet wide located half way up the slope. Fairly small, would have knocked a person off their feet but would not have buried them. Slope has no visible anchors, and was entirely barren. Triggered an avalanche at 11,200' on a 35 degree ESE-facing slope in a small clearing (30 feet wide and 20 feet tall) in the trees. Triggered from adjacent to the clearing while ascending the slope along the edge of the trees surrounding the clearing. Top 2 and a half feet of snow broke off as a cohesive slab before sliding into the trees below. A majority of the clearing slid, and the movement appeared to propogate from top to bottom. A gunshot-esque sound was heard when taking a step about 15 seconds before the snow started moving. Slide happened before sunrise, so my camera couldn't get a good picture.