Gunnison

Avalanche

(public) Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Feb 2, 2019 · Gunnison

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Weather

Ridiculously nice. Below zero on the valley floor increasing to balmy on the ridge. Blue sky, bright sun, no wind.

Snowpack

Intended to ski the northern ridge line of Birthday bowl. Dug a quick pit just below the ridge to evaluate the upper snowpack. HS was 205 cm with evidence of wind loading. A quick compression test resulted in a sudden collapse about 15 cm down on the 7th tap from the wrist (CT7) followed by another collapse at 30 cm on the 2nd tap from the elbow (CT12). The weak layers were presumably buried surface hoar. These results sent us looking for less committing lines and more protected entrances. Skied fast, silky powder on the northern edge of Thanksgiving bowl and in Birthday bowl. Great skiing, but the snowpack feels a little sketchy moderate.

Avalanche

Lots of old crowns all around, but nothing new (besides the one on Baldy). Minor sloughing in the upper 10-15 cm of the snowpack entering from the ridge. Also had some sloughing on the steep benches lower down on the slope that almost wanted to step down deeper into the snowpack.