Gunnison
AvalancheScott Krankkala · Feb 9, 2014 · Gunnison
Weather
Weather: Heavy snow all day ~1" per hour. Snow flakes were large and relatively light, but became denser and wetter as the day progressed. Below treeline winds were calm, with no evidence of recent transport. Warm temps around 30º.
Snowpack
SNOWPACK OBS: New snow feels slightly denser than earlier storm snow, and was reactive in shovel tilt and hand shear tests. No collapsing or cracking while traveling, even when our large group would come together. Fresh natural avalanche observed on a NE aspect BTL. Snowpit was dug on an adjacent slope at a similar aspect. HS 200cm, total snow above January crust is 105cm. In compression tests we had results of CTH Q2 at 120cm in what appears to be an interface created during or between our recent storms. Deep tap tests had no failures on Jan crust, but instead were failing at an interface in the depth hoar. In total there is 70cm of DH, however the bottom 50cm has gained some strength and is 1F-4F in hardness, above that the facets are fist hard. Extended column with a deep tap 50cm below the surface gave an ECTX result, video here https://vimeo.com/86282095
Avalanche
Avalanche: Fresh natural SS-R4-D2-N, on NE slope 9,800’. Avalanche ran on or close to the ground, potentially on interface in or above DH. Crown was approximately 150cm. Start zone angle was difficult to determine from afar but seemed to be in the high 30’s.