Gunnison

Snowpack

Ben Pritchett · Feb 22, 2011 · Gunnison

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Weather

Cool and blue bird. Snow surfaces stayed cold. Light to Moderate SW-W winds transported Light to Moderate blowing snow at ridge crests all day.

Snowpack

Toured on N'ly aspects up to treeline. Scary SH layer down 100cm, with upright 12mm SH. Still producing sudden fractures in all tests. Repeated CTH (SC), ECTP 25 (SC), PST 30/100 (END). This is the upper most of 3 buried SH layers in the midpack (Jan 9th), w/ Jan 2nd down 120cm, and Dec 29th down 140. PLEASE remember these weak layers are present across the entire Gunnison zone (and I've tracked them in the N. San Juan's as well). They are somewhat dormant currently, but definitely still in the triggerable depth range, particularly in the shallower parts of the Gunnison zone, or larger triggers (snowmobiles, hucking, explosives). While the warm temps of the last two days has helped settle the recent storm slabs from last weekend, the structure of the upper portion of the midpack is still concerning.