Gunnison
SnowpackZach Guy · Feb 2, 2013 · Gunnison
Weather
Warm temps. Clear skies with few to scattered high, thin clouds in the afternoon. Snow became moist on SE to SW aspects. Calm winds.
Snowpack
Across west facing terrain above treeline, crusts and near surface facets from mid January prevalent below the late January slab, which varies from 1-4’ in depth. The top half has become upside down with the recent gusty winds. SW aspects above treeline not as loaded and not as concerning right now. Aggressive mitigation in Upper Upper Westwall again today (West facing above treeline). Air blasts and hand charges easily cleaned out every path that we approached except one that was heavily boot packed prior to the storm. All of these slid on the mid-January interface, which was either facets or crusts. One began within the storm snow but stepped down. Several gouged through facets to the ground. Crown heights averaged 2 ft. D2's and D3's. No significant results on SW aspects above treeline. See crown profile and photos. Several natural avalanches in the surrounding Ruby Mtns on above treeline SE, E, and NE aspects, mostly fresh windslabs failing within the storm snow (D1's and D2's) and one larger slide that likely failed on the mid January interface (SS-N-R3D2.5-I) on a NE near treeline into Robinson Basin.