Gunnison

Avalanche

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Jan 11, 2014 · Gunnison

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Weather

Sunny and clear, 22 F, calm winds near the road but noticeably gusty W-SW winds on the ridge tops

Snowpack

HS 193 cm, new storm snow about 70 cm on top of 4finger wind buff/wind crust from last week. We dug a pit on a NE 32 degree slope and found the storm snow to be reactive on the old snow interface, as well as within the new snow, as if it came in two waves with different temps/consistency. CT14(Q1) on new/old interface 70 cm down, the column did not fully release and on the 15th tap there was a failure(Q3) within the new snow at 40 cm. Our second column test showed CT23(Q1) at the new/old interface 70 cm down.

Avalanche

There were many natural soft slab avalanches throughout the zone on our way out. Schuylkill ridge and Mineral Point had larger soft slabs, and Schuylkill Mtn above Pittsburg showed many point releases. We noticed two skier triggered soft slabs in the happy chutes as well. E and NE aspects were very cross loaded, as well as corniced at the ridge tops.