Gunnison

Avalanche

Ian Havlick · Feb 21, 2016 · Gunnison

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Weather

Periods of high clouds and warm temperatures above freezing to treeline. Light westerly breeze 10-15mph with a few gusts into the 20mph range.

Snowpack

Snow was generally quite consolidated and supportive with minimal ski penetration, even in afternoon around 1400 with full softening and melting of crusts on south and southwesterly facing slopes. Shadier and lower angled slopes still held creamier, colder graupel and windblown dusty patches. No signs of instability.

Avalanche

One large glide avalanche above upper slate past Pittsburg on a near treeline, east facing slope. Looked like significant movement since thursdays storm with clean patch between thursdays dusty snow and slab. Failure looks imminent, and would consists of entire snowpack since xmas cycle when this slope likely last slid.