Sawatch
AvalancheAnonymous · Jan 27, 2018 · Sawatch
Weather
Windy, lots of snow transport ATL and even in the trees. Wind was initially from the NW then shifted to Westerly in the afternoon.
Snowpack
Variable NTL, with depths ranging from 12" to 45". Observed some woomphing and cracking in the trees, with collapses propagating 10-20'. The avalanche we set off ripped much larger.
Avalanche
We observed two naturals that ripped early today or last night on steep NE Lee faces ATL just south of the Crest. The crowns were well pronounced and not yet filled in by the heavily wind transported snow, so we know they were recent slides. We set off an avalanche on a N aspect NTL 35* slope, just on the edge of a scree field in North Fooses Creek drainage. We thought it might rip, so we skied one at a time with good safe zone plan. Sure enough, the first skier on the slope set off an R2D1 that propagated 100' wide and ran 200-300'. It ripped to the ground and large rocks acted as trigger points. Fortunately the skier went fast and outran the soft slab avalanche. He did not realize the slope slid until he was in the safe zone and the rest of us were yelling at him. A close call, but we managed it well.