Gunnison
AvalancheCBAC Staff · Apr 10, 2023 · Gunnison
Weather
Clear, calm winds, sweating profusely by mid day.
Snowpack
Surfaces were frozen and supportive to boot, ski, and sled this morning for a few hours. By about 12:30, east aspects BTL were unsupportive in steep, rocky areas (boot pen thigh+ deep), and small test slopes were easy to initiate gouging wet loose. Wet slab activity began shortly after that here. High northerly aspects remained dry, but were just starting to get damp and rollerball on NE aspects around 12,000′. On planar sunbaked slopes ATL (not near rocks), water had moved into the top 5″ or so. Sledding out became on and off trapdoor this afternoon. The dust is now widespread on the surface at all elevations in the SE mtns, except for high north.
Avalanche
See photos and details below. Yesterday’s slides are documented in separate ob. BTL: Several large gouging wet loose, wet slabs and glide avalanches ran yesterday. Activity was escalating today, we observed three wet slabs run between 1 p.m and 2 p.m on east aspects (D2-D2.5) and a full-depth wet loose on a south aspect (D2). The wet slabs failed just above the ground and one snapped fairly mature trees. NTL: A few shallow wet loose (D1-1.5) ran yesterday, along with several large wet slabs (D2) on south to west aspects, in shallow, rocky terrain. Saw one wet slab run today on an east aspect (D1.5) and some more small wet loose activity. Left before the south to west aspects were at peak instability. ATL: A few fresh cornice falls (D2) and a few shallow wet loose avalanches (D1-1.5). Notably quieter than mid and low elevations for wet activity. Also a notable D3+ came off of the south face of Teo about a week ago (I’m guessing April 1). It started as a broad storm slab ATL and stepped down into old hard slabs in the gullies before reaching valley bottom.