Gunnison
SnowpackCrested Butte Avalanche Center · Feb 2, 2012 · Gunnison
Weather
Another day with below TL temps nearing, but not exceeding freezing, and nighttime temps in the single-digits. Winds have been light today, starting out W'ly and shifting to S'ly as clear skies yielded to high thin clouds and then overcast skies.
Snowpack
Snowpack: Mild temps have continued to slowly settle and strengthen the snowpack. Signs of instability have been slowly decreasing this week, with no signs of instability today, even in some lesser-travelled pockets on E-S-W aspects below TL where we have previously seen some small, untraveled pockets still be reactive. All aspects and elevations have good supportability, though it is still close to threshold in below TL areas on more W'ly aspects. The recent near-freezing daytime temps and single-digit nighttime temps have created near-surface faceting in the upper snowpack, particularly on S'ly and E'ly aspects near and below TL. This makes for excellent surface conditions, but may become a weak layer once buried. On more W'ly aspects near and below TL, soft snow from last week's storm remains soft. Above TL, there remains a mix of windslabs on more E'ly terrain with S and W aspects having variable wind-loaded and wind-scoured pockets. Avalanches: No avalanches today in our terrain and no new naturals spotted in the vicinity.