Gunnison

Avalanche

Zach Guy · Dec 8, 2014 · Gunnison

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Snowpack

Toured up Red Lady skin track into Redwell Basin. On South aspects Near & Below Treeline, the snowpack is almost entirely facets with a couple melt-freeze crust layers near the surface of varying thickness depending on slope angle. On North aspects: Above treeline was variable depth and density. The surface was grabby wind crusts, with faceted snow below and/or above. Near and below treeline is all faceting, in the 4F range, 1-1.5 mm in size. Snowdepth around 30-50 cm. Trapdoor skiing below 11,000 feet, with ski pen frequently to the ground. A few patches of surface hoar, mostly in low elevation creek drainages or sheltered southerly aspects near treeline. See photo.

Avalanche

Only minor sluffing on steep terrain, but we are heading towards facet sluffs pretty soon.