Sawatch
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Jan 19, 2019 · Sawatch
Weather
Wind loading was intense this morning looking up Halfmoon Creek near Mt Elbert. No significant wind loading was noted around Hwy 91. Skies were mostly clear to start the day. Clouds obscured skies in the afternoon with a few snow flurries. About 6 to 8 inches of recent snow in this area. Since January 11 the slab over older snow layers varies from 10 to 16 inches. Much thicker slabs on easterly slopes near ridgetop.
Snowpack
Collapsing continues in any open terrain. Collapses were small and localized below treeline with louder more thundery collapses in wind-drifted terrain near treeline. No instability was observed in storm snow and main concern is avalanches breaking on faceted layer 30 to 40 cm below the surface. Any avalanche breaking on this layer has potential to step down to more deeply buried layers.---Below treeline the slab over the layer of concern is only about 8 to 10 inches. The slab is soft and breaks apart in tests. Concern for a widely propagating avalanche below treeline is minimal.--- Near treeline the avalanche hazard is much greater as the slab is more cohesive, feels denser and carries the potential for wider propagation.---Observations are from southerly slopes.
Avalanche
Few avalanches observed. This morning views out to the east side of Leadville and to the main Sawatch Range north of Mt Massive showed little avalanche activity. A couple recent avalanche observed in Buckeye Gulch.