Sawatch

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Dec 5, 2020 · Sawatch

Weather

Another warm clear day. Cool at ridgetop with light winds.

Snowpack

Same old, same old. Faceted and thin in most areas and hard slabs located directly below ridgetop. Surprisingly still supportable to skis near treeline and above. East-facing near-treeline has about 4 to 6 inches of faceted snow sitting on a melt-freeze crust. The crust is supportable but if you are skinning and trying to set a track, you can break the crust. Very weak snow beneath this crust. I could push the faceted snow on the top of the crust and get some sluffing, but really harmless. I tried to push some snow on steep above-treeline east-facing slopes but sluffing was minimal. No signs of instability observed.