Gunnison
SnowpackJosh Hirshberg · Feb 21, 2012 · Gunnison
Weather
Skies were overcast. Moderate W wind @ TH, but N valley winds closer to Gothic. Moderate blowing snow in open areas below TL. S-1 snowfall throughout the day.
Snowpack
In general, this remains one of the shallower and weaker areas in the zone. However, boot pen was not full depth in many places. Surface forms were precipitation particles. Windslabs seemed to be primary issue for instability. Significant cracking and minor avalanching occurred where wind-loading from the past 24hrs was present. However, ski cuts on 40° slopes produced no results where windslabs were not present. Mid-slope elevations (10,100-9,600ft) were cross-loaded. Fresh slabs were most reactive on E-SE slopes where they were sitting on crusts from earlier in the week. HS of 60-125cm. -Meadow @ 10,800ft near study plot HS 110cm. Boot pen was 60cm. -Summit of Snodgrass HS 125cm. -A NE slope @ 10,700ft that had previously slid had an HS 60cm of mostly faceted snow, while an adjacent slope had an HS 125cm. Many small natural and triggered small cornice failures above the Gothic rd from past 24hrs.