Gunnison
SnowpackEric Murrow · Mar 3, 2025 · Gunnison
Weather
Cloud cover steadily increased this morning to overcast skies by noon. Snowfall began around 130 at ridgetop. Less than 1/2 inch by 3pm. recent snowfall (cm): 1
Snowpack
We toured on a few west, south, and southeast features near treeline. West-facing terrain through about 11,800 feet showed recent meltwater draining through about half the snowpack. The sunnier the feature, the deeper it moved, and the shadier west aspects, produced less meltwater from the recent warm weather. In the big picture, west slopes near treeline often have dry, depth hoar at the base of the snowpack, but old, thin ice columns from earlier this winter were visible. None of these locations were rocky and produced less water than other locations. A profile on a southeast slope at 11,900 feet showed meltwater moved through the entire snowpack with ice lenses and ice columns present through nearly the entire snowpack and very moist facets near the ground. Much of the snowpack looks strong, and future problems are unlikely to break beneath the current crusty surface. A single, small northeast slope at 11,600 feet had a thin, friable crust at the surface with small, lightly faceted grains near the surface.