Gunnison
Avalancheian havlick · Dec 9, 2016 · Gunnison
Weather
Mostly cloudy to obscured all day, light snow tapered to flurries early afternoon. Light to moderate WNW winds all day, increasing in the afternoon. Total snow accumulations 4-5". Temperatures were balmy, 25-28ºF.
Snowpack
Variable snowpack between bare ground and 130cm, with average snow depth 75cm on northerly terrain, 50cm on south facing in terrain travelled today (N/BTL). Winds were lightly transporting snow into 10-20" windslabs on lee (E-SE facing) terrain. Cracking and localized collapsing up to 25ft away on both friable suncrusts and 1-2mm near surface facets formed by recent cold snap. Near the ground the snow and facets are still weak, but not as weak as near surface facets midpack. Snowpack was 1F hard, moist, small grained facets near ground. Bottomline: biggest concern is buried near surface facets under snow in last 24hrs. Gonna need l~1" of water in 12-24hrs to see widespread avy cycle where we travelled today. Surprisingly weak structure.
Avalanche
no avalanches observed aside from small, 40'x40' windslab on steep convex roll test slope (see photo). Predictable cracking off skis in steeper terrain on NSF 10-20cm below surface.