Sawatch

Avalanche

Ben Feinstein · May 1, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

Bluebird all day, very warm, probably 50+ at the trailhead (~9,600') and never even got close to freezing. Hot and practically humid. Breezy at all elevations.

Snowpack

Very soft and weak upper layer, knee to waist deep based on endless postholing. The snow was very wet and heavy. Snowshoes did nothing to prevent deep postholing. The snow seemed uniform in texture, just tons of wet, unsupportive junk. The snow was so exhausting and awful I didn't make it above treeline due to concerns about wet slabs breaking loose on steeper terrain, even below treeline. This was on the northeast and north aspects of Mount Ouray's east ridge, 11,000'. Approximate photo time was noon. Southern aspects of other mountains and ridges were nearly completely dry.

Avalanche

None seen.