Gunnison

Avalanche

Zach Kinler · Dec 6, 2020 · Gunnison

Weather

Amazingly pleasant. Sunny skies, calm winds, temps in valley around 10F to start with 11K temps near or above freezing.

Snowpack

Toured primarily E-N aspects up to 11,600? paying close attention to near surface conditions and any Loose Dry avalanche concerns in the Northwest zone. Snowpack depths are 40-60 cm with the upper 15-20 cm heavily faceted. Below 10,500? its trap door with faceted snow or weak crusts/facets to ground. Moving above 10,500? and into more open terrain, there is generally a meager 1F midpack offering ski support and a shallow bed surface for any Loose activity. The upper 15-20 cm is faceted similar to lower elevations however. Stomped on a few N/NE near tree line features with October facets(3mm) near the ground with no cracking or signs of instability. Slabs are not present across terrain features.

Avalanche

Triggered 4 dry loose avalanches in similar terrain, running 200-300 vertical feet. D1 in size. These avalanches are easy to avoid as they are starting quite small and narrow and only gaining harmful momentum mid to lower track as the terrain funnels and confines the debris.