Gunnison

Snowpack

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Jan 3, 2016 · Gunnison

View on map

Weather

Clear, Calm with a strong valley temp inversion.

Snowpack

No instabilities noted throughout the tour. Persistent slab structure noted on all slopes and at all elevations with varying thickness of slab, with overall HS in this alpine zone generally >1.25M. Fresh cracks noted on one slope (~35*) NTL facing SW from the previous day’s snowmobile traffic, but the compressive support seemed to hold it in place. Rapid settlement from Xmas storm snow continues, and on steep Southerly aspects (>40*) many trigger points / shallow spots in the slab seem easy to hit now again. Pronounced Surface Hoar found from about 10,500’ down to valley floor.