Sawatch

Avalanche

Becs Hodgetts · Dec 14, 2018 · Sawatch

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Weather

Clear and calm throughput day. Winds increased to light west breeze by 3 pm.

Snowpack

On south near treeline slopes: surface wind slab reactive in snowpit tests (CTV); as skiers traversed slopes rumbling collapses with shooting cracks observed. CT and ECTN (hard) results 26cm from ground.

Avalanche

Observed skiers skinning up south slope under Buckeye Peak. As they traveled onto the snowfield below the peak we observed the slab fracture from the rocks above them, propagate, catch and carry the two skinners ~50'before the first skinner glided out of the debris. The second skinner remained in the debris for a short amount of time.