Sawatch
AvalancheKatie Konigsberg · Dec 7, 2021 · Sawatch
Weather
Mostly overcast with short windows of sun trying to poke through. Light snow. Blustery below ridgeline with swirling winds. Moderate winds from the west at ridgeline that were transporting snow.
Snowpack
Slippery, stout, spring-like crust with ~7 cm fresh snow on top near ridgeline on an east-facing slope. I couldn't poke my pole through the crust and it was the kind of surface that made me wish I had a whippet and ski crampons. Below treeline height of snow was 55 cm with 10 cm new snow. The new snow both near ridgeline and BTL wasn't slabby.
Avalanche
Observed several very, very small soft slab avalanches triggered by cornice fall on east-facing slopes at ridgeline. They were so small that it's hard to even consider them avalanches. Intentionally triggered one loose dry R1-D1 avalanche with a cornice kick on an east-facing slope.