Gunnison
SnowpackZach Guy · Jan 14, 2013 · Gunnison
Weather
Broken skies. Light SW winds at ridgetop. Negligible precip.
Snowpack
No signs of instability on steep N aspects above treeline. The recent windslabs (up to 8" deep) appear to be most sensitive on near treeline slopes compared to all other elevations, where they rest on near surface facets. Ski cuts and jumping on pillows on slopes up to 40 degrees produced localized cracks and collapses, but no slab releases. More evidence of small natural avalanches in the new snow which likely occurred on Friday on these near treeline windloaded slopes. Below treeline, the midpack was all faceted out except for the top 4" of new snow, and we ski cut several facet sluffs that gouged to the ground on east aspects (These may have avalanched previously). On below treeline south and southeast aspects, we dug in areas that we had previously observed a well-structured, right side up snowpack. Now, the snowpack is almost entirely fist hardness facets, except for the top MF crust/ new snow combo and some faceting crusts midpack. No signs of instability on these slopes: the crust is supportable on skis but not on foot with only 2-3" inches above it.