Gunnison

Snowpack

Ben Pritchett · Jan 7, 2011 · Gunnison

Weather

Warm, 30 degrees, calm winds. Blue bird.

Snowpack

Settled snowpack, loosing strength near the surface. Weak layers still present at Dec 29 interface (down 40cm), and Jan 2 interface (down 10cm). On sunny SW-SE aspects, we observed a crust / facet combo down 10cm from surface, toped w/ 10cm of near surface facets and surface hoar on the snow surface. Another crust / facet combo down 40cm that produced sudden collapse fractures above the crust. Slab above this interface was only 4F stiff and weakening relative to what I saw several days ago. On N-E aspects, the Dec 29 SH remains intact, but lacks a slab on top. Upper snowpack entirely faceted, toped w/ large SH. Slopes that slid in late December were quite shallow and the midpack was marginally supportive. We avoided these areas and stuck to stronger slopes. Tested several 35+ degree slopes w/ no results. Saw several wet loose slides pull out of SE facing cliffs.