Sawatch
AvalancheBo Torrey · Jan 28, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
Mostly clear skies with calm winds below the ridgeline. Light to moderate wind speeds on the ridge. Did not see snow drifting. Looked like most of available snow had already been drifted.
Snowpack
Wednesdays strong winds created stiff surface conditions on many slopes. Wind drifts below ridgeline are firm 4F to 1F hard or more in some areas. Most of the avalanches I observed in the area failed lower down on the slopes instead of right below the ridgeline, except for 1 avalanche which appeared to be triggered by a cornice drop and broke up to the ridge on an east facing heavily wind loaded slope that had avalanched already in late December or early January. The December 11 facet interface was not reactive in my stability tests but the January faceted layer 35-40 cm below the surface was reactive in all stability test on East and Southeast facing slopes. ECTP 11 & 13 32 and 39 cm down on 2mm facets. Wind drifted slopes with more than 12 inches of new or wind drifted snow continue to be the most likely slopes to trigger an avalanche. Snow available for transport appeared to be all gone and drifted already.
Avalanche
Suspect riders walking on the ridge kicked a cornice that triggered the slides.