Gunnison
SnowpackCrested Butte Avalanche Center · Feb 16, 2013 · Gunnison
Weather
Weather: Clear, sunny, cold (valley inversion evident) with moderate and very cold N/NW winds at ridgetop in am.
Snowpack
15-30 cm of storm snow from past 2 days found from TH to summit. Mostly very low density where sheltered, and a bit stiffer where exposed to wind, though still 4F hard. Intentional cornice drops produced very small and shallow soft slab release (D.5) below ridgetop, that turned more into loose snow sluffing and rolling cornice blocks. Skiing was fast and consistent with last week's crust layers not felt until around 11,000', and even from there down to TH it was very minimal. Avalanche Activity: Fresh slide visible from town in center of RL Bowl, was actually about 3 or 4 separate small dry loose snow slides triggered by (natural ?) cornice falls. Debris was not deep enough to bury a skier. Not much else seen around the range in regards to natural activity on solar aspects as of 1200.