Gunnison

Avalanche

Evan Ross · Mar 2, 2025 · Gunnison

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Weather

Clear with a few clouds in the late afternoon. Light winds. Warm temps. cloud cover: clear

Snowpack

The upper snowpack on these southerly-facing slopes feels like it has been transitioning nicely over the last couple of days. The threat of wet loose avalanches has appeared to be decreasing since the recent peak on Friday. Looking around the area, peak instability for this warmup also looks like it occurred around Friday, with what looked like less or little avalanche activity occurring since.  Conditions on the south side of Mt Baldy fit standard spring travel advice. Perhaps the best skiing occured between noon and 1:30pm. We skied a SW aspect from 12,300ft to the valley floor around 1:45pm, and the snow quality was fairly good from top to bottom. I made a few turns out on a south-facing slope, and the snow surface felt past its prime and a little punchy.  In the morning, on a west facing slope at 10500ft, there was an ice lens right above the 2/8 crust with 4F facets below the crust. Water didn't apear to have pushed through the crust at this location. The slope angle was about 34 degrees here. The surface crust was about 3cm thick and simi suportive to skis. .

Avalanche

I noticed one new wet avalanche. A few others probably occurred. Otherwise, wet avalanche activity mostly occurred on Friday and some on Saturday. Nothing to notable.