Gunnison

Snowpack

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Dec 15, 2013 · Gunnison

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Weather

Temps in 20s, maybe upper 20s all day, light wind from W/NW, sometimes moderate. Blowing snow observed on adjacent ridges, nothing on Emmons.

Snowpack

Recently cross-loaded slopes on E/SE aspects above 11,000' forming stiff (P) slabs of varying depths. When off wind slabs, ski pen was about 10cm all day on surface facets over a supportive mid-pack. Recent avalanche (D1.5/R2) at 11,700 feet one drainage to west of RLG. Could have been natural, from today. Warm temps and bright sun definitely warmed all steeper, S / SW aspects, which formed a thin zipper crust by evening. One more issue to consider in that shallow snowpack.