Sawatch

Avalanche

John Mackinnon · Jan 1, 2014 · Sawatch

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Weather

Obscured skies trending towards BKN. Snowing S1 at 1030 but tapering throughout the tour. Moderate westerly winds at TL with light blowing snow at ridge-tops.

Snowpack

Buckeye Area: West aspects 10K- 12K. Minor cracking and got one loud collapse on a steep (~40*) roll at 11,500 feet on a west aspect. HS averaged 75-100 cm on observed BTL west aspects. Top 20 cm were a mix of DFs and PPs. The remaining snpx was facets. Near and above TL snpx much shallower with a thin hard slab on facets. Skipen averaged ~50 cm. Old skin tracks and previously observed slabs from two weeks ago are beginning to facet out.

Avalanche

N.O.