Gunnison

Snowpack

Scott Toepfer · Feb 22, 2013 · Gunnison

View on map

Weather

Morning started cold and obscured but clouds gradually lifted but never went to blue. Ridgelines and peaks remained obscured all day. Some shadows at times but visibility remained a bit tricky. No wind at 10,400 feet at our high point. Temperatures remained cold all day. Snow fall intensity was increasing as we left the valley.

Snowpack

Fairly deep snowpack in general. Signs of old activity noted. There is a weak layer of near surface facets about 18 to 24 inches down from the surface. It was touchy and reactive, but never produced large slides. On Thursday the terrain produced slightly larger soft slabs on similar terrain, but a bit more wind loaded. The group discussed that more small triggered soft slabs were expected on Friday.