Gunnison
AvalancheZach Guy · Feb 16, 2017 · Gunnison
Weather
Weather: Light NW winds, clear, warm.
Snowpack
Snowpack: Widespread, well-developed near surface facets (1-1.5mm) and patchy surface hoar layer (2-5mm+) on the surface on all shaded or low angle terrain. At lower elevations, this is above a thin, soft melt-freeze crust, with facets on both sides of the crust. As we gained elevation above 11,000 ft, the snow surface was denser, with some wind texture from recent east winds, and the near surface facets are smaller (less than .5 mm) and less pronounced. These weak layers appeared to be moistening into a crust on steeper, sunnier aspects (SW aspect observed). Dug one pit in a wind sheltered, north facing slope at 10,800 feet. The 1/19 surface hoar layer (3-8mm) showed propagation, moderate initiation, 65 cm deep below a 1F slab. (ECTP19, SC)
Avalanche
Avalanches: A handful of recent wet loose avalanches on steep sunny slopes from the past few days. One full depth glide avalanche and one narrow wet slab avalanche, both on easterly aspects BTL, ran sometime in past couple days. No signs of instability where we traveled except some rollerballs on sunny slopes.