Gunnison

Avalanche

Ian Havlick · Jan 31, 2021 · Gunnison

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Weather

-25F @ 0800, inverted with 19F at Cottonwood Pass station at 0600. Warmed nicely with strong solar by midday. Minimal wind today and evidence wind has been light even above treeline in areas travelled over last 48hrs. 15cm new low density snow at 11,000-12,000 ft near Tincup.

Snowpack

Extremely faceted, weak snowpack BTL, with increasing variability near and above treeline from mid January wind event hardslabs hanging tough P+ to K-hardslabs of varying thickness. Depth hoar 4-8mm at the ground in variety of elevations and aspects investigated.

Avalanche

Several semi-recent natural avalanches on E-SE facing terrain above treeline (12,400-600ft) between mirror Lake and Tincup Pass. Heavily windloaded terrain with slabs ranging from 2-8ft deep. Bed surfaces were slightly drifted and re-filled by yesterdays snow, assuming these avalanches failed more than 36hrs ago.