Sawatch

Snowpack

Andrea Tupy · Jan 9, 2021 · Sawatch

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Weather

Lightly snowing and cold with the sun poking out periodically throughout the afternoon. Ridgetop winds, above treeline, were moderate out of the northeast with light wind transport (due to lack of transport product). Below treeline winds were light with no current wind loading.

Snowpack

The snowpack below treeline, east aspect, consists of 60 cm of loose, fist-minus to 4-finger-minus snow. During travels, I detected a supportive slab in tree canopy clearings but it was not contiguous. My skis predominantly punched through to unsupportive snow while skinning below treeline.