Gunnison

Avalanche

Ian Havlick · Dec 22, 2019 · Gunnison

View on map

Weather

Overcast skies, calm winds and mild temperatures at all elevations traveled. Base layer skinning up and down.

Snowpack

Targeted steeper, northerly terrain to check snow and go to the bullseye of the persistent slab structure. Structure is there, but did not find concerning, reactive or lively persistent slab structure 7 days after last load. The snowpack in the terrain traveled has faceted a ton (20cm) in surface, especially in below tree line northerly terrain where the snowpack is nearly bottomless facets, but not quite to the point of dry loose sluffing, even in terrain 40º steeper. Slabs above treeline still hold 1F hardness slabs above 2-3mm facets near the ground, and failed with moderate taps near the ground. Snow depths varied from ~100cm in Redwell Basin, to 60cm below treeline.

Avalanche

Lots of evidence of old avalanches from the Dec 14-15th cycle in steep terrain all elevations. no recent activity.