Gunnison

Snowpack

John MacKinnon · Dec 4, 2011 · Gunnison

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Weather

Tour began under broken skies with patches of sun and calm winds. As I reached treeline around 1430 the wind had strengthened and shifted to the East, skies clouded up and it began snowing lightly (S-1). Airtemp of -16C at 1430. Stayed cold, gray, windy with light snow throughout the rest of the tour.

Snowpack

East Aspect at 10,700 ft 4" recent storm snow in exposed areas below treeline had faintly been stiffened by light northwesterly winds. At ridgetop, ~6" snow had blown onto a crust. Got one collapse and 1 small crack--5 feet off of ski tip--when crust collapsed on facets. Not much evidence of previous westerly wind loading, but strengthening easterly winds began transporting snow onto west aspects near treeline.