Gunnison
AvalancheAnonymous · Nov 21, 2016 · Gunnison
Weather
Variable. Windy with periods of clouds and sun from. Elevation of tour: 11,250' up to 13,462'.
Snowpack
Paradise Divide, Treasury Mtn. Very thin snowpack. The deepest snow was on N to NE aspects. Shallow, wind-loaded, and somewhat cohesive, slabs on many N and NE aspects. Approximate 2 cm weak facets on ground. 12,000' to 13,462' elevation.
Avalanche
Approx. 12,500' elevation. A small, shaded NE aspect with a small cornice at the top with noticeable wind-affected snow below cornice and in the small bowl. I went first and snow was supportable (wind-affected) and somewhat stable-feeling. My partner followed but on second or third turn he released a small wind slab (approx. 8 cm deep and 7-8 meters across) which ran slowly for about 15-20 meters. He was able to ski away from it very easily and we watched it run slowly to the stopping point. On our ascent we noticed debris from a fell other small avalanches on Purple Ridge. Possible cornice-failure being the cause for the biggest of those, but hard to tell from our distance. Also, on our skin out we triggered many shooting cracks while crossing virtually all wind-loaded terrain with "significant" snow depth, "steeper" pitches, and grassy ground cover. Definite weak facets under any substantial snow.