Gunnison
AvalancheEric Murrow & Ben Pritchett · Mar 17, 2025 · Gunnison
Weather
Light winds in valley bottoms increased to moderate speeds with a few strong gusts above treeline. cloud cover: overcast; wind loading: moderate; snow avail for transport: small smounts
Snowpack
Below treeline the upper snowpack is often laced with crusts, ice lenses, and ice columns. On sunnier features, these reached the ground; on east and west aspects, the melt influence from previous warm weather remained in the top half of the snowpack. Slab avalanche issues appear to exist only on shadiest aspects below treeline. Recent snowfall is markedly less than in snow-favored areas north and west of Crested Butte. Snowfall from March is commonly less than a foot deep. A profile on a north aspect near treeline (wind sheltered) produced a propagating Extended Column Test after taps from the shoulder (hard result) on basal weak layers. The early March facet layer exists here but is less problematic as it lacks a slab without additional wind loading. (see profile below) A test profile on a north slope above treeline did not produce results in an Extended Column Test. Still, it produced Propagation Saw results that suggest triggered avalanches remain a threat if you were to initiate a collapse from a shallow or weak area. Basal depth hoar remains fist hard beneath a stiff slab. A few hasty hand pits on east slopes above treeline showed facets resting on a crust beneath the recent snowfall; the slab ingredient appears to be missing but may form in the near future with additional snowfall. One natural Wind Slab ran on the north side of Crystal Peak in the early afternoon. A collapse occurred on an east-facing knoll above treeline and a low-angled southeast meadow around 11,000 feet.
Avalanche
One natural Wind Slab on an alpine north slope with active wind loading during the day.