Sawatch

Avalanche

Ben Pritchett · Nov 27, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

High clouds, chilly temps, light winds.

Snowpack

The Sawatch and the valleys below are holding more snow than the Gunnison Valley. Coverage is still thin below treeline and it's pretty wind-hammered above treeline. Monarch Pass stands out as dramatically deeper, though Mt. Etna still has it's classic scoured look. Michigan Creek / Georgia Pass area in the eastern Sawatch is also somewhat deeper.

Avalanche

On my return over Monarch Pass, I noticed the snowplow blowers triggered numerous small banks on the west side of the pass that were not there earlier in the day.