Date of Observation: 12/28/2015
Name: Ian Havlick
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation: 9200-10500
Avalanches: Hard to see, but did observe a few large debris piles on S-SE facing slopes of the Collegiates/Sawatch, as well as a large slide partially blown back in on Matchless Mountain, and a 50ft wide slab triggered by snowplow below road to lake ice below.
Weather: Increasing clouds in afternoon. Cold temperatures, ~15ºF. Calm.
Snowpack: Average HS 75-90cm. 6mm surface hoar on every opening in trees. Large, stiffening storm snow (F>1F hardness) mixed with 1 to 3 layers of surface hoar in bottom 30-50cm (before most recent storms), and 3-4mm cupped depth hoar at the ground. Two ECTs produced ECTP24 and ECTP27 both failing 30cm from ground at hardness and grain type/size difference. 24º slope, NNE aspect @ 10,200ft. At ridgetop of surrounding peaks, hardly any snow on W-NW facing slopes.
3-4mm depth hoar
