Gunnison

Avalanche

Ian Havlick · Feb 21, 2014 · Gunnison

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Weather

Full profile with CBMG Level 2 avalanche course. Wx: temp -5.5ºC at 1230pm,

Snowpack

SPx: generally a rounding regime with 140-160cm snowpack at Slate TH but upper 6-8" snow has very high temperature gradient (3º) and is faceting rapidly. 1mm facets on decomposing new snow. Could become problematic with new snow load with the Feb 14th rain/MFcr as bed surface. CTMx2 on January 26th buried NSF. Sudden collapse. HOwever, 2 more compression tests showed no result, as did an ECTX. becoming harder to trigger but ability to initiate failure remains. Significant wind loading on high peaks.

Avalanche

AVx: no new avalanches observed