Gunnison

Avalanche

Zach Guy · Dec 13, 2016 · Gunnison

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Weather

Weather: Overcast, light to moderate westerly winds at ridgetop, with minimal snow transport observed.

Snowpack

Snowpack: See photo captions for detailed pit descriptions. On NE aspects N/ATL. Extended column tests showed propagating results on basal facets/depth hoar, up to a meter deep. Non-propagating results on Dec 6th near surface facet layer, buried mid-pack. We triggered two large collapses on low angle slopes. We did not venture onto any steep terrain at these elevations. On S/SW aspects N/BTL. The Dec 6th crust/facet layer produced about 5 rolling collapses up to 50+ feet long, but is buried only 6-12″ right now; not much of a slab. Propagating results. On N/NE aspects BTL, the snowpack felt fairly uniform and soft, becoming progressively weaker with depth but with no distinct or sudden hardness changes. We traveled on several slopes steeper than 35 degrees with no signs of instability.

Avalanche

Avalanches: No recent avalanches observed across all bowls of Mt. Axtell or on northerly aspects of Carbon