Sawatch

Avalanche

Jason Konigsberg · Feb 24, 2022 · Sawatch

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Weather

Cold. Storm snow totaled about 12 inches. Windy at ridgetop with moderate loading. Lingering low-level moisture with limited visibility, clearing in the afternoon.

Snowpack

Very touchy, but on the small side below treeline. A little harder to trigger NTL but a little bigger. Remotely triggered a couple NTL (SE and E). Triggered a few small ones with skis below treeline mostly on east. Constant collapsing on east below treeline. Avalanches breaking on fist-hard facets below a melt-freeze crust. Once we upped the angle to 34 degrees, these avalanches were certain.

Avalanche

Remotely triggered two avalanches and triggered three with skis below treeline.