Gunnison
AvalancheZach Guy · Jan 10, 2014 · Gunnison
Weather
Snowfall rates increased to heavy by late morning through sunset (S3 – S5). Winds were from the SW around 20mph, with gusts consistently in the 40’s. Periods of intense snow transport. Overcast.
Snowpack
Storm board at 27" Storm totals at 37†with 2.28†SWE. 8†(.7†SWE) fell last night, and additional 14†(0.75â€ÂSWE) during today. Around the terrain, the storm snow fell on wind stiffened surfaces (Jan 8th interface). The storm snow is top heavy, with denser, more wind-affected snow in the top 2/3 of the storm snow.
Avalanche
Very touchy and widespread slab conditions in the new snow, both below treeline in wind sheltered and near treeline in wind affected terrain. Skier triggered storm slabs BTL were generally 5-10†deep. On more crossloaded slopes NTL, we ski triggered slabs from 14-24†deep, averaging about 25 ft wide and confined by terrain features. Slabs failed on precip particles from early in the storm, either at the Jan 8th interface or mid storm snow, and doubled in size through the day. Seemed that slope angle needed to be >37 for slabs to move downslope. 6 slides bigger than D1's on near treeline slopes. SS-ASc-R2-D1.5/2-I. Observed one natural this morning below treeline on an E aspect on Kebler Pass Road. SS-N-R2-D2-U