Sawatch
SnowpackAndrew McWilliams · Dec 28, 2022 · Sawatch
Weather
Skies were broken to obscured throughout the day with intermittent S1 showers throughout the day not accumulating to more than 2". Temperatures were around 20F with light southwesterly winds. As I was leaving, snowfall increased to S2 and the temperature began to drop.
Snowpack
I traveled and dug on north through east to south-facing slopes. Travel was difficult below treeline as the snowpack was inconsistently supportable. Near treeline the travel improved as the slab from recently wind-drifted snow was supportable to skis. The snowpack generally consisted of large faceted grains near the ground with a decomposing melt-freeze crust on top. Above this are layers of facets of varying hardness and thickness depending on an area's exposure to wind. At the surface are decomposing forms and precipitation particles 30-50 cm deep. This layer was supportable to skis near and above treeline. If you carried speed below treeline you could stay on top of the snow, but as soon as you slowed down you collapsed into older layers. I experienced numerous isolated collapses traveling on east to south-facing slopes while I ascended into the near treeline elevation band. Extended Column Tests were most reactive on the facets below the new snow and decomposing forms. The more cohesive the slab above, the more reactive the pit results. ECTP11 and one ECTPV were noted on this interface near treeline on southeast and east aspects respectively. Snow depths below treeline ranged from about 45cm to 60cm. Near treeline they increased to 80cm to 130cm or more in drifted areas. Above treeline was mostly scoured on nearly all aspects. It appeared that most of the snow was blown into deep, dense isolated drifts in lee areas.