Gunnison
AvalancheEvan Ross · Dec 29, 2017 · Gunnison
Weather
Weather: Few clouds in the morning becoming clear by afternoon. Moderate westerly winds at 12,560.
Snowpack
Snowpack: On south and southeasterly facing slopes there wasn't much difference in snowpack structure from 9,500ft up to 12,560ft, other then snowpack depth. ECTX at 11,200ft on SE facing 33 degree slope. ECTN at 12500ft on SE facing 36 degree slope. Small column tests could produce resistant shears below the Christmas Storm on non-persistent decomposing small grains. On these aspects throughout the elevation traveled the snowpack begin with the 12/21 storm.
Turned around on one ENE facing slope that was a small roller in the terrain. As the snowpack doubled in hight with very weak snow below stronger snow.... Photos: http://cbavalanchecenter.org/snow-on-rocks-or-dirt-or-grass-or-sharks/
Turned around on one ENE facing slope that was a small roller in the terrain. As the snowpack doubled in hight with very weak snow below stronger snow.... Photos: http://cbavalanchecenter.org/snow-on-rocks-or-dirt-or-grass-or-sharks/
Avalanche
Avalanches:
Checked out the Augusta avalanche reported after the Christmas Storm. In a pit below the crown about 100ft and off the left side of its flank the HS was 50cm's. Basically, the Christmas Storm was sitting on the 12/23 wind event and denser snow, down to the ground. Any previous snow was poorly distributed through the rocky terrain. ECTN at this interface on small decomposing grains. The Augusta natural avalanche appeared to fail on this interface and not at the ground. The avalanche size was an R1 in the terrain, while debris where difficult to map as the snow surface has blown back over and been blended back in.
Checked out the Augusta avalanche reported after the Christmas Storm. In a pit below the crown about 100ft and off the left side of its flank the HS was 50cm's. Basically, the Christmas Storm was sitting on the 12/23 wind event and denser snow, down to the ground. Any previous snow was poorly distributed through the rocky terrain. ECTN at this interface on small decomposing grains. The Augusta natural avalanche appeared to fail on this interface and not at the ground. The avalanche size was an R1 in the terrain, while debris where difficult to map as the snow surface has blown back over and been blended back in.