Grand Mesa
AvalancheJewel Campbell · Dec 2, 2024 · Grand Mesa
Weather
Temps were in the 30s all day, no breeze and light, high clouds.
Snowpack
Snow depths ranged from 60-80cm but coverage was inconsistent on southern aspects. The deepest snow was on west and north slopes. Snowpack structure was similar from west to north to east aspects with near surface facets at the surface, about a foot of decomposing precipitation particles from the Thanksgiving storm, and large facets/developing depth at the bottom. The entire snowpack was fist hard throughout. (With the exception of a wind-affected area on a northeast slope where I found the only dense snow) Extended column tests consistently broke but did not propagate at the Thanksgiving storm interface. (west, northwest, north, northeast, and east slopes were all tested)
Avalanche
I looked over the slopes that typically avalanche in this area however the south slopes did not have enough snow coverage and the north slopes were glued in place.