Gunnison
AvalancheCBAC Staff · Nov 25, 2023 · Gunnison
Weather
CLOUD COVER Overcast TEMPERATURE (F) Not Observed NEW OR RECENT SNOWFALL 27 RAIN/SNOW LINE Not Observed SNOW AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORT Moderate Amounts WIND LOADING Light WEATHER SUMMARY Around 10 inches of new snow with occasional light snow during midday. Westerly winds transported some snow at ridge top.
Snowpack
Around 10 inches of recent storm snow. Drifting occurred from moderate westerly winds in exposed areas. Below treeline the snowpack was quiet on north and easterly aspects as the the slab above basal fascets and mid-November 'dry spell' facets, is very soft and has yet to settle into a cohesive slab. Sunny aspects in this area are shallow with the recent storm falling on rocks, dirt, and discontinuous crust at the ground. Once we moved into terrain near treeline with some wind-deposited snow we experienced a few collapses and cracking in the snowpack but no avalanche release (see image). In sheltered areas, the snowpack was surprisingly quiet, but once we found light wind drifting near treeline, we experienced collapsing and cracking down to the mid-November 'dry spell' layer.
Avalanche
While snowmobiling beneath Axtel, we watched snow flowing over the cliff band in 3rd Bowl on Mount Axtel. We never got a good view of the start zone, but this definitely was a natural avalanche on northeast-facing terrain near treeline.