Gunnison

Avalanche

crested butte avalanche center · Jan 5, 2017 · Gunnison

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snowy

Avalanche

Avalanches: nearly all of the bench slope above nordic center and hockey rink ran in 2 separate avalanches. 2 x SS-ASr-R4-D1.5-I/O the initial failure was ~20cm down from the surface, then stepped down to the storm snow interface on NSF & SH ~40-50cm deep. Some areas of crown were small cornices (1F) buried in der Ãœber fluff. Some slabs failed ~5cm within the NSF. Critical slope angle for release was ~37/38* I also triggered a D1 and the whole slope fractured and slumped with an Artificial subaru trigger (ca. 1996, rust colored) as I "rubbed" the snow bank around the lumberyard corner and rubbin' son is racing. Lot's of R4 roof-a-lanches with well aimed single snowball triggers failing within the storm snow leaving ~15cm depth on the roofs. Weather: snowy Snowpack: widespread cracking and propagation going ~100m & triggering avalanches