Gunnison
SnowpackSteve Banks · Feb 7, 2012 · Gunnison
Weather
Sunny with highs in the mid 20's. Calm morning winds becoming light from the Southwest in the afternoon with a max ridge top gust of 19 mph. Strong solar radiation causing some wet snow in the afternoon on steeper S-SW slopes.
Snowpack
Near and above treeline the snow is supportive and mostly still soft. Basel facets still exist on all slopes. Below treeline the snowpack is supportive on skis, but punchy below. Large faceted grains make up the base with a stronger slab on top. There is little tension in the snowpack, and signs of instability have diminished over the past week. Looking around from up high we noted ski tracks on N-NE slopes near TL and snowmobile high marks on E-SE slopes 40 degrees with no evidence of avalanching.