Gunnison

Snowpack

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Mar 15, 2013 · Gunnison

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Weather

Overcast skies clearing to broken skies around 1400. Cool winds in the teens from the SW with gusts up to 40mph. Highs at study plot 45°, ridgetop 34°.

Snowpack

Snowpack: Cooler SW light winds kept upper elevations firm today. Lower elevation, SE aspects warmed around 11:30 and skied decently throughout day. Near and below treeline south and east slopes became bottomless later in the afternoon (trapdoor) as the minimal freeze from last night softened. Pit dug in Surhan (BTL, 11400ft, W facing) showed 160cm HS, moist 1F mid pack, and bottom 30cm of dry, 4F, 6mm depth hoar. No notable test results, but columns failed 30cm (depth hoar/rounding facet interface) above ground when prying/column dropping. facet crust sandwich present in upper 20cm of snowpack, which could become problematic in next storm cycle.