Gunnison

Snowpack

Ian Havlick · Feb 8, 2014 · Gunnison

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Weather

Toured in the Antracites today. I think it was the deepest day I have ever had. Wx: S1-S2 snow while we were out. Wind was calm in heavy timber but trees were swaying and dropping large tree bombs. Seemed wind picked up around noon. Blowing and drifting snow in more exposed areas.

Snowpack

Trailbreaking was exhausting from the depth of the recent snow ~60-70cm. The upper 20cm was falling much denser than snow below. probably due to mild temperatures and more wind effect. surprisingly no signs of instability, but snow was definitely becoming "slabbier" and was not pushing terrain too much. Due to depth of snow, found ourselves lusting for steeper and steeper terrain to actually make turns…a human trap for sure. saw others who took steep lines and produced nothing more than loose sluffs. Took probe out and measured a snowpack consistently over 3 meters deep, some paces over 4 meters.