Sawatch
SnowpackSeth Hyman ยท Apr 21, 2013
Weather
partly cloudy @ 1300 with 5-10 mph breeze from NW. Around 1500 winds picked up considerably, and continued blowing from the NW with occasional gusting to SW. Sustained winds of 20, gusting to 35. Dark clouds and light snow began around 1700
Snowpack
Isothermal, to near isothermal below 12000'. Around 12200, on the SE aspect of the ridge line leading to southern summit 12800, I dug out a seat to shelter the wind for a bit and take in the view. In this I noticed 5mm melt freeze crust covering 50 mm of large rounded crystals. This intermedate/ base layer of large round crystals was considerably more cohesive than mid-winter DH, even though it was entirely granular. The snowpack on the NE slope I descended was considerably different. 2" of transport on top of dense isotherm slab. NE face directly above and below the cornice as spotted by thin sheets of ice similar to surface hoar, but thicker. I easily triggered small 10' wide X 50' long sloughs directly below the cornice. Similar sloughing had been triggered earlier in the day by snowmobilers dropping off the wind ridge into the bowl.