Grand Mesa
AvalancheColin Mitchell · Apr 17, 2016 · Grand Mesa
Weather
Clouds were breaking up over the Mesa and the Grand Valley. Breezy but pleasant day.
Snowpack
The new snow was bonding well to the old snow surface, and settling quickly. We had 2" of settlement on the 24 hour stake since the morning reading. Some pockets of windslab were visible in the paths above the Rim. The new snow was getting moist with the afternoon sun despite the below freezing temps, and a few rollerballs were observed on slopes below 10,000'. There was some disagreement with new snow amounts between the weather stations and the driver's reports. There was 10" of settled snow on top of the old crusts in the study plot this afternoon. Good bonding, rapid settlement, clearing skies and low snow totals indicated mitigation was not necessary with this storm.
Avalanche
None reported or observed.