Gunnison
AvalancheZach Guy · Jan 4, 2014 · Gunnison
Weather
Strong to extreme WSW winds (speeds in high 20’s, gusting to 70 mph) and heavy snowfall (S3-S5) began to taper mid-afternoon, with winds becoming light from the NW. Intense wind transport near and above treelike most of the day. Temps dropped through the day from high teens to 5F at 10,000 ft.
Snowpack
Storm total at 14†(1.05†SWE). Signs of early drifting at study plot. Storm depths ranged from 8†– 15†around the terrain, fell on velvety powder (in sheltered trees), firm wind-affected surfaces (near treeline), and thin meltfreeze crusts (on southerly).
Avalanche
On West aspects near and below treeline: Lots of cracking and very touchy storm/wind slab instabilities. We skier triggered dozens of soft slabs on most rollovers and slopes steeper than 35 degrees, began failing 4†deep in the morning and upwards of 12†deep by the end of the day. These failed at or just above last night’s interface on a density difference, were predictable and harmless in size (SS-AS-R1-D1/1.5-I). A couple isolated pockets stepped down up to 18†deep (on Dec 31 interface?) in areas that we hadn’t trafficked in the previous week.