Gunnison
AvalancheZach Guy · Apr 7, 2014 · Gunnison
Weather
Light snowfall this morning under overcast skies cleared to scattered/broken skies this afternoon. Light winds with gusts in the 30’s. Light snow transport off of high peaks. Temps rose to 30F at 10k and 19F at 12k.
Snowpack
4-6†of new snow, fair bond to underlying meltfreeze crust; most areas not much of a slab in a.m., but W/NW wind patterns drifted snow up to 12†deep (F+/4F-) on leeward and crossloaded features N/ATL. Some cracking and small pockets that were less than 10 ft wide except for the avalanches described below. Afternoon solar quickly settled and moistened snow.
Avalanche
Skier triggered 2 soft slabs on SE aspects above treeline, 6-12†deep, 30 ft wide, running on yesterday’s crust (4/6 interface) and a small soft slab on crossloaded W aspect above treeline that ran ¾ track. SS-ASc-R1-D1/1.5-I Skier triggered a couple loose snow avalanches, dry in the morning, wet midday, running on the 4/6 crust on various aspects/elevations L/WL-ASc-R1-D1-I Saw one natural soft slab, ~10†deep, 40’ wide, occur midday on E aspect Near treeline. SS-N-R2-D1-I. No other naturals except small sluffs.