Sawatch
AvalancheRich Rogers · Mar 30, 2024 · Sawatch
Weather
Friday evening, snowfall increased between 5:30-9PM. S-1 to S2. 1-2" with minor drifting from rolling across the surface from what I could see in the beam of my headlamp. Saturday, broken sky cover, intermittent flurries with moderate West winds blew snow around all day, at times winds swirled in all directions in the basin then intensified through the night shaking the metal sided hut. Sunday morning, still quite windy with more blowing snow, overcast skies, and warm. Dust layer on the surface.
Snowpack
Textured surfaces with radial cracking in firm(4F to 1F-) snow in open exposed areas and softer (good skiing) in sheltered leeward or treed areas.
Avalanche
The general appearance of this avalanche has characteristics of a wind slab avalanche triggered by cornice fall after last weeks intense loading event. Some spots on the bed surface, where it seems to be a little darker or off-white, maybe the previous dust player from early March showing. There is a chance it failed on persistent weak layer at the dust layer. Could be a slight change in hue from recently sun/temperature effected snow and new snow starting to drift over top of it. I would have not seen this avalanche if the clouds didn't break at the right time.