Gunnison

Avalanche

CBAC Staff · Jan 16, 2024 · Gunnison

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Weather

Beautiful day, few clouds. Calm or light winds down low, and I didn't spend much time at higher wind-exposed locations to asses the wind.

Snowpack

Between 10,500ft and 10,800ft E to SE, about half of the mid-30 degree slopes we traveled on produced some form of shooting cracks. Lots of recent settlement and the snowpack was offering far more support than yesterday. The steepest slopes we were riding were in the mid-30 degree range and about 100 to 200 feet tall. About half of those slopes produced some sort of shooting cracks. Riding near a few bigger slopes didn't produce remote triggers. The alpine had lots of wind-affected snow surfaces, and some features that were nicely filled for once things settle out.

Avalanche

Some documentation of the previous avalanche cycle between Ruby and the SE face of Afley. Going for the main avalanches that are D2 or greater. There is of course more avalanche activity that was less than a D2.