Gunnison

Avalanche

Zach Kinler & Evan Ross · Mar 16, 2020 · Gunnison

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Weather

Weather: Partly Cloudy, Calm winds up to ridgeline in the am, light SW winds in the afternoon. Temps remained below freezing in the alpine while areas near and below treeline warmed above freezing.

Snowpack

Snowpack: 4-5" of recently settled snow from late Fri/early Sat. The newest snow was bonding well with the old interface which was 2-4 mm graupel. No wind slab issues encountered on leeward slopes. Northerly slopes above stayed dry down to our observed elevation of 10,500ft on that aspect. East aspects 11-12K were slightly moist with no wet loose activity while below 11K had enough moisture to initiate rollerballs and a few small wet loose slides from steep, rocky terrain. Southerly aspects were moist with rollerballs.

Avalanche

Avalanches: D1.5 slab avalanche Augusta Mt. SE 12,400'. Estimated 3/14 early AM D1.5 Wind Slab in Coon Basin SE 11.800' , just below the ridge. Estimated 3/14 early AM 3x D1 Wet Loose avalanches on an East aspect 10,000'