Sawatch

Avalanche

Steve Martino · Jan 26, 2019 · Sawatch

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Weather

Overcast/Partly cloudy, wind generally coming from the west gusting up to 30mph & transporting snow. E aspect above TL at about 12,800 feet.

Snowpack

Snow on Homestake east ridge above treeline was mostly soft windslab, ski pen ranging from 0 to 5 inches. We got one decent whumpf as we attempted to cross a low-angle, cross loaded gully feature before finding an alternate route.

Avalanche

East facing slope just above Slide Lake, below point 12,853. Appears that a smaller slab starting just below the ridge line was triggered and stepped down. (we did not observe the trigger or see the slide go)