Sawatch
AvalancheBrandon Levy, Brian Lazar · Apr 27, 2021 · Aspen
Weather
Broken skies with high thin clouds gave way to generally overcast conditions with occasional snow flakes by midday. Winds were light and from the south then southeast.
Snowpack
Low snow and low volume in the avalanche paths above SH82 on the west side of Independence Pass. Looking across at West Roaring Fork the most recent dust layer was visible on the snow surface and more pronounced in the rocky gullies in that area above SH82. We also noted rocks, trees, and in some more scoured places bare ground showing at the start zone elevation. Across the "horseshoe" where we toured in the East Roaring Fork avalanche area there is also a large amount of shrubbery and other anchors and we had to pick our way down Waterhole #1 where the snow in the lower track above the road mainly consisted of old avalanche debris with a bare gap between the snow in the start zone and that old debris. The snow depth in the East Roaring Fork area near Waterhole #1 varied from bare ground to 80cms in previously drifted locations. Water has moved through the snow to the ground.
Avalanche
We observed a few previous small loose wet avalanches, specifically one in West Roaring Fork below the cliff band and one smaller one in Waterhole #1. A recent, thin, slab avalanche released below the cornice at Waterhole #1 but stopped in the upper track. We also observed the wet slab avalanche reported on 4/5/2021 by Alan Porter and remarked at the sharpness of the crown still despite the 20 days between obs. Some loose wet activity below the cornice on the east face of Geissler but no slabs or large activity.