Sawatch
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Feb 26, 2022 · Sawatch
Weather
Calm winds at 11k feet. Light westerly breeze at 13k feet. No snow transport observed. Recent storm snow totaled 12 inches.
Snowpack
Mainly traveled east-facing slopes from below to above treeline. The most collapsing was below treeline. I didn't get on any steep, open, below treeline slopes, but fairly confident I would trigger an avalanche if I did. I got less collapsing near treeline but the few collapses I did get were much larger than lower down. Above treeline there was a thin wind slab over softer decomposing fragments (recent snow). Underneath the recent snow was a very hard surface and not the preserved fist-hard facets found NTL and BTL. I traveled on a subridge so the snowpack is probably more wind affected than other slopes. I would be very skeptical of east-facing above treeline start zones for the dangerous structure seen in other areas, especially a few hundred feet downslope from ridgelines.
Avalanche
Avalanches noted in other obs.