Sawatch

Overcast and breezy with intermittent light snowfall.

There is a concerning layer of weak snow near treeline on north through east aspects that will become more reactive once a thicker slab forms. Currently, there is around 15 to 20cm (6 to 8 inches) of new snow on this layer that was fist hard, and not reactive in stability tests. The snow depth in two places we dug on north slopes we slightly deeper than we've seen (65cm). With another load or significant drifting, this layer will likely fail easily. Below the crust/facet or facets the snowpack is completely weak and has a high potential for any avalanche to gouge to the ground. On a deeper wind-drifted southeast-facing slope around 11,900', the snow was considerably deeper, but it sits above an impenetrable ice/wind-plastered layer and was less concerning.