Sawatch

Avalanche

Kreston Rohrig · Nov 28, 2017 · Sawatch

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Weather

A few small clouds in an otherwise clear sky. Temps just below freezing, light west wind.

Snowpack

First pit: 11,800'NE aspect NTL HS 55cm. Very weak snowpack overall, comprised mostly of faceted grains and decomposing crusts. Two layers of 2-3mm DH in the lower 20 cm. ECTN down 15cm on crust/facet interface. Second pit: N aspect NTL. Wind loaded gully in exposed area with with HS ranging from 160cm to 50 cm at the margins. Stiff 1F+ slab over well developed 3mm DH. ECTP 14 SC at slab DH interface. Crown profile: ENE NTL 38 degree slope. HS 90cm. Crown line ranged from 25-50 cm, comprised of wind-packed rounds. Failed on a 3cm layer of 1mm FC, sandwiched in between another older wind slab near the ground.

Avalanche

The avalanche failed on a 3cm layer of FC grains sandwiched between two hard wind slabs. Appeared to be remotely triggered from a skier on an adjacent slope 150' away. The avalanche stepped down to the ground after initially breaking at the mid-pack faceted layer.