Gunnison
AvalancheCBAC Staff · Dec 10, 2024 · Gunnison
Weather
Visibility was poor, but we could occasionally see snow blowing off alpine ridges. Where we traveled, winds were generally light, but evidence of drifting overnight.
Snowpack
Settled storm totals increased from 1" at Pittsburg to about 4" or 5" at 11,000' to about 8" or 10" at 11,600'. The snow was denser than yesterday and showed evidence of light to moderate drifting overnight. Drifts were up to a foot deep where we traveled, and appeared to be bonding more favorably to the sun crusts on southerlies (test slopes produced minor cracking 2' to 4'). I would expect larger, potentially more sensitive drifts on these aspects where more productive drifting was occurring.
Avalanche
Skier triggered a handful of small soft slabs in steep crossloaded terrain features on E and NE aspects, and observed a similar natural that probably ran last night. Visibility of surrounding terrain was limited by cloud cover.