Gunnison
SnowpackEvan Ross & Christian Jordan · Mar 29, 2025 · Gunnison
Weather
cloud cover: broken; wind loading: none; recent snowfall (cm): 3 to 5 ; snow avail for transport: small smounts
Snowpack
An easterly facing slope at 11,350ft had a ski pen of 30cm into wet snow. This snowpack was not very inviting, and we avoided the terrain feature. Northerly facing slopes in the low 30-degree range had a thin crust up to our high point at 11,600ft. Steep 40-degree north-facing slopes skied great at 11,000ft with small sluffs and no crust. From 10,500ft down to about 10,000ft on a low angle northerly facing slope, the conditions skied well with creamy, moist snow. By about 9,800ft the snow had become sticky and punchy. We stopped by the crown of an old wet slab at 10400ft, on an easterly facing slope. This wet slab released on facets near the ground below the cliff, and on the 3/13th interface along the looker's right flank. Along the lookers right flank the total snowpack was around 2 meters. Water had descended about 60cm to a 3cm crust. In the middle of the slab, below the cliff, water had run through the snowpack to the ground. The total snowpack under the cliff was also shallower. .