Gunnison

Snowpack

Josh Hirshberg · Jan 20, 2013 · Gunnison

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Weather

High of -4°C. Calm. Clear skies w/ strong solar radiation.

Snowpack

Widespread surface hoar, up to 2cm(!!!) in size. Avg HS 90cm. Ski pen of 40cm. Lower slabs were supportive, though upper layers were not. Lot's of faceting in upper spx. Dug profiles @ 10,500ft on NE aspect. Saw sudden collapse results in compression tests (x4) on 3mm depth hoar 27cm above the ground. No results on this interface w/ extended column (ECTX x2, ECTN 16cm below surface on 1/11 SH). Fist hard depth hoar layer had overlying slabs of 4F+ hardness. Numerous point releases from the past week on steep NE slopes. Seemed like continuous slopes of ~40° were need for sluffs to run.