Sawatch
AvalancheBrandon Levy, Dylan Craaybeek · Mar 19, 2022 · Aspen
Weather
Beautiful calm and mostly clear day on Independence Pass. The sunshine was intense by 1100 AM. Despite the relatively cool temperatures the slack winds and the sunshine made it feel warm.
Snowpack
Poor snowpack structure exists on the east-facing slopes adjacent to the closed SH82. There is a cohesive slab interspersed with melt-freeze crusts over the dry spell faceted grains that were buried in mid-February. A long column test produced a propagating result after 16 taps on the dry spell faceted grains (ECTP16 down 42 on DH size 2-4mm). There are faceted crystals adjacent to the upper most crust and below the early March meltdown crust but the main layer of concern is the mid-February faceted grains.
Avalanche
There did not appear to be any avalanches that reached closed highway 82 on the west side of Independence Pass. However, there was notable activity in Green Mountain West and West Roaring Fork. (both these avalanches are coded in the GIS)