Gunnison

Avalanche

Crested Butte Avalanche Center · Jan 11, 2014 · Gunnison

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Weather

Clear skies calm winds and temps in the twenties

Snowpack

Storm snow totals around 45cm, new snow has developed into a soft slab especially in areas exposed to the wind. Widespread collapsing and cracking traveling upwards of 10-20m on N-NE BTL. Pit profile shows a complex snowpack with instabilities and buried weak layers throughout the profile. Surface snow is bonding poorly to a mid storm interface, along with existing snow. Extended column test @ 9,500’ NE had a ECTP24 Q1 SC on a thin layer of buried surface hoar at 80cm. While these weak layers were stubborn on test slopes and no avalanches were triggered, the instability exists and could result in medium size avalanches large enough to catch a backcountry traveler or step down to the ground creating larger destructive avalanches.

Avalanche

Two remote skier triggered avalanches on the east side of Mount Emmons SS-AS-R2-D1-U. Tracks and crowns were clean and likely triggered prior to 9am this morning. Natural avalanche on Mineral Point SE SS-N-R2-D2-U. Natural avalanche on Axtell 3rd Bowl, SS-N-R2-D2.5-U.