Gunnison
AvalancheIan Havlick · Jan 10, 2016 · Gunnison
Weather
Clear, cold with light northerly breeze with visible transport off high peaks (teo, whiterock) at times. High around 20ºF. Morning temp at TH at 10am was 2ºF.
Snowpack
Generally shallow, weak, and faceted. with average HS 50-80cm. One pit today, 70cm, 33* slope, SW facing NTL. Ct14 SC on basal depth hoar 4-6mm, but skinned 38*+ terrain with no signs of instability. Did see 6-10 D1-1.5 dry loose avalanches off steep terrain on east, south and west terrain ATL, looking like they initiated off warming rock bands. I think persistent grains definitely exist on all aspects and elevations but slab has eroded. Sledding was challenging with track augering badly in shallow snowpack, don't take your thumb off the throttle!
Avalanche
Did see 6-10 D1-1.5 dry loose avalanches off steep terrain on east, south and west terrain ATL, looking like some initiated off warming rock bands. Evidence of many wide slides on steep east facing terrain and did observe evidence of a few west facing crowns in steep aspens that ran around xmas. Some of the crowns observed looked a little more recent...possibly wildlife triggered... photos highlight slopes that may hang in the balance still or may re-activate with future loads in a more destructive avalanche...steep convexities slid, but more planar slopes did not...