Gunnison

Snowpack

Evan Ross · Nov 21, 2014 · Gunnison

Weather

Todays weather was mellow with partly cloudy sky and calm wind below ridgeline.

Snowpack

Strong winds from the tail end of the last stormy period have left an uneven distribution of snow and surface conditions. On todays tour where the snowpack was 40cm or less it was weak and faceted with little to no cohesive slab. Deeper areas on the NE-E aspects traveled today had a 4F slab sitting on F or 4F facets from old snow in early November and October. On one NE pit these facets were caped by a thin P hard crust. These facets seem to have currently adjusted to their load during this weeks mild weather and were unreactive to ski and snow pit tests today for slopes in the mid 30 degree range. Many snow surfaces consisted of weak near surface facets or smooth wind board. Southern slopes with steep enough slope angles had a moist snow surface.