Lawinenlagebericht

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 2 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

The snowpack struggles to adjust to last week's loading event, and dangerous avalanches continue to threaten backcountry travelers.  Warm weather on Monday may exacerbate the avalanche hazards.  Feedback like cracking and collapsing is uncommon, so you may not get a warning before releasing a deadly slide.  You can reduce risk by choosing lower-angled terrain without overhead hazards when traveling on aspects/elevations highlighted by the Persistent Slab problem and monitoring the wetting snow surface on sunny slopes.  Conditions remain ripe for an avalanche accident with little feedback underfoot before a deadly avalanche releases.  A close call from Sunday on a northeasterly slope below treeline reinforces the current predicament. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    2–3.5

    Weak facets and collapsible crusts are widespread on the northern half of the compass and on some sunnier aspects at high elevations.  Slabs on top of these weak layers average 2 to 3 feet thick in wind-sheltered terrain. Slabs are thicker and harder in wind drifted terrain and can step down through older slabs to the ground.    This problem is becoming more stubborn to triggers, often requiring a thin spot on the slope, such as near buried rocks, trees, or where slabs thin from wind effects. Avalanches can break widely across multiple terrain features and be remotely triggered from flat terrain near or below steep slopes without warning signs. The problem is less common on south and southwest aspects, and can be avoided on slope angles consistently less than about 30 degrees.  

    These destructive persistent slabs released on Wednesday 2/19.  These exemplify the potential size avalanche you could trigger on large, drifted slopes. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    As temperatures rise and the sun warms the snow surface, the potential for Wet Loose avalanche activity will increase. Pinwheels and roller balls are an early warning sign that this avalanche problem is developing, and a loose wet avalanche may release on a steep slope. Consider avoiding travel on or under steep sunny slopes as you see this avalanche problem developing or if you find a few inches of wet snow on the snowpack surface. 

    A weak freeze last night may increase the odds of wet avalanche activity on Monday, and temperatures may increase by around 5 degrees from previous days.  There is a small chance that a Wet Loose avalanche could release a larger slab avalanche as it runs, and there's an even smaller chance that a Wet Slab avalanche could release from a hot, rocky area due to meltwater draining through the slab.  

    A Wet Loose avalanche from Sunday on a south slope near treeline.  This avalanche grew fairly large due to the long terrain length and could be very dangerous as it ran through a rocky gully.

    (2/23/2025) Photo: Crested Butte Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche conditions remain tricky around the forecast area.  Avalanche problems are two-fold; dangerous Persistent Slabs exist on the north half of the compass, and some upper elevation southerly slopes and a warming snowpack present wet snow hazards on sunny terrain.  The most problematic issue lies with Persistent Slabs, as most triggered avalanches are big enough to bury, injure, and kill a person.  Some could be large enough to knock down small trees!  Feedback for the problem has become rare, which may persuade you that the issue is less threatening and tempt you to ride steep slopes on suspect aspects.  Observations from Sunday continue to point out a problematic snowpack.

Yesterday, a skier triggered an avalanche and was partially buried on an east-to-northeast-facing slope in the Elk Creek drainage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.  This is clear evidence that trouble can be found below treeline despite a lower danger rating than at upper elevations.  A second observation from Carbon Peak documented a recent avalanche on a north slope that appears to be very fresh and could be the result of a remote trigger from a previous group this weekend.  A third observation (no image at this time) from upper Elk Basin reported a potential snowmobile-triggered avalanche from Saturday, 2/22.  Accidents and close calls continue to filter in from around the state.  The sheer volume of accidents and near misses doesn't require much interpretation...conditions are tricky, and conservative terrain selection remains your best defense.

Wet snow avalanche hazards may increase on Monday from a weak overnight freeze and higher temperatures compared to the past few days.  Most issues will come in the form of Wet Loose avalanches, but a slim chance exists for a loose avalanche to release a slab, or a very isolated location may produce a Wet Slab avalanche.  The most suspect terrain for wet avalanches will likely come from steep, rocky areas that heat faster than other nearby open slopes.  This observation from Snodgrass on Sunday highlights the wet snow problems and documents some recent natural loose avalanche activity.  Carefully monitor the surface conditions, and if you find more than a few inches of wet snow, it might be time to find an aspect with less warming or choose lower-angled terrain.

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