Sawatch

Avalanche

Kreston Rohrig · Jan 7, 2018 · Sawatch

View on map

Weather

Lingering snow showers cleared by mid day. Skies opened up to a warm day in the sun, chilly in the shade. Winds were calm BTL, but raging from the NW at ridgetop.

Snowpack

BTL on a protected NE slope, there was 5" HSN sitting on a thin wind board 2-3cm thick. Below the crust, facets dominated the mid-pack with depth hoar at the bottom. I chatted with multiple avalanche courses coming out of Chalk Creek on my way home and discovered the following: Weak test scores on N-E-SE aspects. No noticeable cracking or collapsing NTL or BTL. ATL, groups observed wind-loading, but did not venture to that elevation to investigate further. ~5" HSN reported from that area as well.

Avalanche

None significant reports. One instructor saw a potential R1 D1 slide in a steep gully BTL. Said it may have ran previous to this storm.