Gunnison

Avalanche

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Apr 12, 2016 · Gunnison

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Weather

Broken skies, warm temps, light winds, a few brief periods of graupel.

Snowpack

Decent refreeze last night: Surface crusts were ~6" thick below treeline, 8-12" thick near treeline above a wet snowpack. Above treeline, there was a few inches of recent, unconsolidated snow that was rollerballing harmlessly, and crusts below the new snow looked on track to stay frozen and solid through the whole day. Around 2 p.m., the snowpack had become trapdoor and unsupportive to skis below about 10,500 ft on N and W aspects.

Avalanche

See photos. Observed about a 10 recent natural loose wet avalanches on northwest aspects near treeline, some of which gouged to the ground, D1 to D2 in size. A few small ones above treeline as well. Failure date unknown but I would guess this past weekend. No other significant activity observed, with good views up high.