Sawatch
SnowpackJeremy Primmer · Nov 9, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
Light winds, broken cloud cover transitioning to overcast for most of the tour. The clouds started to break on our way down around 1:00. Temperatures BTL were above freezing on the way down and the snow surface was moist.
Snowpack
Below the treeline the snow was patchy, with the most coverage on north facing aspects. North and northeast facing aspects at the upper end of below the treeline and near the treeline had 0.3mm facets on the surface. Dug 2 quick pits one on a northeast slope near the treeline and one on a north slope above the treeline, both were relatively similar. We had a snow height around 40cm and found fist hard facets sitting on a four finger to one finger hard slab that was resting on fist hard basal facets or depth hoar. The pit above the treeline had more advanced facets and a harder slab. We saw some cracking around our skis and had one small collapse above the treeline on a wind loaded pocket. The snow was relatively supportable with only 5-10cm ski pen and north facing slopes near the treeline and above had more continuity than expected. East facing slopes near treeline had a much shallower snowpack with about 15cm and a couple melt freeze crusts. South facing slopes had very little snow.