Gunnison

Snowpack

John MacKinnon · Jan 16, 2013 · Gunnison

Weather

Few clouds, light north winds even at ridge-tops and no blowing snow. Strong solar radiation on steep southerly slopes.

Snowpack

Dug a test profile at 11,000 feet on a 40* south aspect at 12:45 pm. HS 75 cm. 15 cm of F+ old storm snow on top of a melt-freeze crust. Observed facets above and below crust. Bottom 57 cm of snowpack was facets. Shovel tilt test had sudden planar result above crust and compression test failed below crust upon isolation--CTV (SP) @57 cm on facets. Old storm snow above the crust was becoming moist and we saw one rollerball come off a nearby cliff band. Observed up to 20 cm of old storm snow resting on the facet/crust combo in more wind-loaded areas. North winds blew straight up NE aspects near and below treeline scouring and stiffening the snow. I did observe some minor cracking in the starting zone of the 40* NE slope at treeline while skiing. Small stiff wind slabs gave way to a mostly faceted snowpack and several members of our party released small loose dry avalanches--facet sluffs. Observed two slab avalanches off the north shoulder of Peeler which look to have occurred >48 hours ago. SS-N-R1-D2-I x 2 on steep east facing terrain close to treeline. They both ran ~500 feet.