Sawatch

Avalanche

Zach Armstrong · Apr 16, 2021 · Sawatch

View on map

Weather

The day started with plenty of morning sun and generally calm winds. Increasing clouds throughout the day with S-1 snow starting at 1345 around 10,500’. Air temps remained below freezing throughout the day.

Snowpack

Overnight snow was moist on all aspects exposed to the sun. Crust underneath new snow was soft (about 5cm) but supportable to skis. Minimal wind slab found on NE aspects above tree line on isolated terrain features near ridgelines. Test Pit on NE aspect at 12,000’ saw poor structure (1m slab over facets) but negative test results (ECTX). Slab structure was discontinuous through N-NE-E aspects near and above treeeline

Avalanche

Several point releases of new snow initiated near rock outcroppings on E-SE-S aspects. Old cornice fall or wet slab on a south facing aspect presumably from the early April wet slab cycle.