Gunnison

Snowpack

Josh Hirshberg · Jan 10, 2013 · Gunnison

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Weather

Overcast w/ some thin clouds. Above treeline winds were moderate out of the SW (about 20mph w/ some stronger gusts). Temps were warm all day. At 13:00 air temp was 0°C @ 11,100ft. No snowfall by 15:00.

Snowpack

Snow surface ranged from widespread surface facets, to thin crusts on steep SW and SE slopes, to sastrugi on ridgetops, to thin breakable hardslab and soft wind texture above treeline. HS averaged 100cm. At 11,100ft boot pen was 70cm in a 100cm snowpack. Slabs in the middle to lower portion of the snowpack seem to be maintaining strength (4F+ to P hardness) despite conditions promoting facet growth. Slab stiffness generally increased w/ elevation and HS. Slabs seemed stiffer than similar slopes on Snodgrass or Coney’s. The bottom ~20cm is still well developed facets.