Sawatch
AvalancheScott Toepfer · Apr 9, 2014 · Sawatch
Weather
Pretty ferocious wind, even at the valley floors. Would have been brutal at the ridge lines.
Snowpack
E and SE aspects surface snow, above recent Dust layer getting very moist. On steep terrain it probably would have 'sheeted' off with ski cuts. On steep cross loaded gully features some higher potential for wind slab/Persistent slab running on the recent dust layer. Especially as day time temps warm.
Avalanche
Saw half dozen small WLNR1D1's on east to SE aspects above treeline on the very steep south ridge of Mt Democrat. Two wind slabs, estimated 36 to 48 hours old off Loveland Ridge. Signs of some very old large full track avalanches off Loveland Ridge, cross loaded gully features, months old I'd guess.