Sawatch

Snowpack

John Mackinnon ยท Jan 6, 2016

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Weather

Overcast skies, mild temperatures, light SW winds and about 30 minutes of very light snow in the afternoon.

Snowpack

Toured up to TL on N, E an S aspects off the Hway 91 corridor. 1 test pit on a S aspect near TL revealed an HS of 60 cm and a mostly faceted snowpack with 3 mm advanced facets at the ground--CTH (PC) x 1 on facets up 25 cm from the ground. Another test pit on an E aspect near TL revealed an HS of 82 cm with 40 cm of cohesive snow (4F-1F) resting on a thin crust. Below the crust, there were 40 cm of facets all the way to the ground--CTH (SC) x 2 on facets up 40 cm from the ground; ECTX. Column collapsed on small facets below the thin crust. Lower angled southerly aspects near TL still holding cold snow. Triggered a tiny facet sluff on a 40+ degree roll on a north aspect below TL.