Gunnison

Avalanche

Jaime Odin · Apr 27, 2019 · Gunnison

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Weather

Sunny with intermittent clouds. On trail from 9:15am-2:30pm. Warm at all elevations, minimal wind.

Snowpack

Firm in AM (started 9:15am), progressively softening towards summit (11:30am). Snow appeared stable up to around 2ft deep. Resistance test at 10,400ft at 10:30am= pencil thin at 0-2ft deep. Shear test = no slabs forming. No post-holing, no strong over weak found. No crust. On descent at 11,000-10,500ft, NE and E aspects at 1:00pm snow was pretty soft on top resulting in some sinking in, around 2-4 inches deep with skis on.

Avalanche

Small slides triggered on 3rd bowl (40deg slope angle), maybe 20-40ft run out on easterly aspects from 11,000-10,500ft. Northern aspects more stable with less sluff occurring on turns, around 1-1:30pm. On Gothic road on way back to parking lot I saw evidence of avalanche debris at top of 1st bowl on a steeper section (likely naturally triggered), at least 50ft runout. Thank you for all that you do.