Sawatch
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Nov 23, 2017 · Sawatch
Snowpack
Traveled on northerly slopes near and slightly above treeline. Rumbling collapses were heard on near treeline, sheltered slopes. In these areas there is an 8 inch slab sitting on top of about 8 inches of fist-hard, very weak depth hoar. Below this is a crust and more depth hoar. The slab is 4F to 1F in hardness and is cohesive and connected across sheltered slopes. I wasn't around northerly avalanche terrain so it is hard to say if initiating these propagating cracks (the rumbling collapses) would have triggered avalanches. My guess would be yes. One stability test had a result of ECTP4---Slightly above treeline and near ridgetop I did not observe any collapsing or any signs of instability. Small wind-loaded slopes were close to 3 feet deep and weak layers were stronger then those in the NTL snowpack. I still got an ECTP15 result on FC 20cms from the ground.---No signs of any wet snow or rain crusts from 11k to 12k ft.
Avalanche
One very small Wind Slab avalanche.