Gunnison
SnowpackBrian Lazar · Mar 10, 2012 · Gunnison
Snowpack
Today skied s aspects atl on gothic mtn. Water to depth of 20cm by noon. Corn skiing. At these elevations not affecting deeper layers. Getting close to hitting midpack crusts btl. Early stages of melt freeze cycle.
East, southeast aspects near and btl took longer to soften. Surface crusts 1-2cm thick. These soften and melt by 11am-12pm. Water to 10cm or so by 1Pm. Doing nothing to layers deeper. Winds slabs in upper pack becoming well bonded to older layers. Becoming unlikely to trigger except remain possible on n aspects steeper than 35 deg.
North and ne aspects still retain dry snow and NSFs make for 6-12" soft snow on supportive upper pack slab. Good skiing on these aspects despite lots of sun at temps neat 40 at 11000ft.
Main problem is deeper depth hoar. Worry about water making to this layer, but we're not there yet. Will happen On s aspects btl first....3 more days of similar wx would get us close.
North and ne aspects still retain dry snow and NSFs make for 6-12" soft snow on supportive upper pack slab. Good skiing on these aspects despite lots of sun at temps neat 40 at 11000ft.
Main problem is deeper depth hoar. Worry about water making to this layer, but we're not there yet. Will happen On s aspects btl first....3 more days of similar wx would get us close.