Sawatch

Avalanche

Jason Konigsberg, Max Forgensi · Jan 17, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

Wind loading was intense on certain slopes but not widespread. Question Mark bowl and near-treeline avalanche path was getting heavily wind loaded while but no snow was moving around the higher peak of Mt Arkansas.

Snowpack

East aspect below treeline (10900ft) - Height of snow is 80 cms. Weakest layer 20 cm down with easy Extended Column test results (ECTP1). Weak layer is fist hardness. With the warm temperatures today east and southeast BTL slopes had a thin surface crust when we descended in the afternoon. Localized collapsing and cracking--- Northeast aspect below treeline (11400 ft) Height of snow = 100 cm no propagating results in Extended Column test. Weakest layer 35 cm down. Small facets four-finger hardness.---Northeast near-treeline (12000 ft)147 cm deep snowpack in wind-loaded area. Weakest layer mid-pack (about 70 cm down) 1-2 mm four-finger-minus facets.---We experienced collapsing in open meadows near treeline.

Avalanche

One avalanche observed that was possibly skier-triggered a few days ago. There was a skin track next to the avalanche and a single ski track coming off of the avalanche with the rest of the ski track covered by debris.