Sawatch

Snowpack

Anonymous · Feb 13, 2012

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Weather

WEATHER OBSERVED: Overcast to mostly cloudy throughout the day and starting to break up slightly by 3pm. Moderate to strong west winds and blowing snow.

Snowpack

SNOWPACK DISCUSSION (instabilities, layers, HST/HN/HS, surface conditions): Remote trigger slide 30ft away wile jumping next to a tree on a 28 degree slope, R3D2.5, 11,550ft SE aspect. Crown was in the 700ft wide range. Estimation of crown slope angle below trigger was in the low to mid 30 degrees with other areas in the upper 30’s. Quick hand pit just above crown, Slope 30: 105-89 F 89-46 F-1F 46-36 P, thick crust, melt freeze? 36-0 N/O Skied west in low 30 degrees with some cracking near the top of the ridge in the new wind slab. Pit at 3pm, 30 degree slop, W aspect, 11,400ft elevation. 115-94 F. New snow 94-88 F 88-60 4F+ 60-30 4F 30-10 4- 10-0 F. ECTX, CTM CTH "break" on facets