Gunnison

Avalanche

Zach Kinler Eric Murrow · Nov 30, 2019 · Gunnison

Weather

OVC, Light and variable winds in sheltered below tree line terrain, moderate WNW winds at ridgetop, intermittent S-1 with less than 1-inch accumulation. Cold with temps in the upper teens.

Snowpack

HS 50-60 cm in sheltered terrain. Very little old snow existed in this non-drifted low elevation terrain near the interior part of the range away from the snow belt. No cracking or collapsing observed on the sheltered skin track. Once on the ridgeline where moderate winds have drifted new snow, we immediately experienced collapses and cracking within the drifted snow. In this area immediately lee of the ridge, the October snow was much more continuous as well due to previous wind loading. Traversing the ridgetop, we were able to trigger two avalanches, D1-D1.5 in size. Once off the ridgeline and below previous and current drifting, signs of instability stopped as the weak layer was discontinuous and thin.

Avalanche

Two avalanches intentionally and remotely triggered from the ridgetop. D1 and D1.5. The bigger remotely triggered avalanche was not enough to bury a person but accelerated and ran about 400 vertical feet. You would have been seriously bunged up if you took this ride.