Lawinenlagebericht

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Drifted snow will be sensitive to human triggers today, especially where wind slabs form over old, sugary snow - most commonly on northeast to east aspects.  Sensitive triggering yesterday foreshadows what you'll find today.  The safest travel is in wind-protected terrain where any instabilities in the new snow will be quite small.  

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It will be easy to trigger soft slabs of wind-drifted snow where drifts formed over old snow layers, especially on the north half of the compass.  North to northwest winds are cross-drifting on aspects holding the weakest snow while forming fresh wind drifts on southerly aspects.   Shooting cracks and blowing snow are signs of instability: manage the problem by avoiding leeward terrain features where the new snow is stiffer and thicker.  Most wind sheltered terrain lacks a slab; stay alert for isolated exceptions.  

    (11/30/2025)

    A shallow wind slab (6") triggered by tapping the slope with my ski pole.  NE aspect ATL

    Photo: Crested Butte Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

It's nice to feel like winter is back, but let's start with the reminder that our snowpack is well below average for this time of year. Getting caught in any avalanche, large or small, will drag you over rocks, stumps, and early-season obstacles.   With the new snow accumulating on a fragile weak layer, we're dealing with sensitive conditions, but relatively small size.  Yesterday's observation from Bellview highlights our problematic weak layer, which was already producing remote triggers halfway through the storm.  Conditions are most dangerous in the snow-favored Northwest Mountains, where storm totals likely exceeded 18" at higher elevations and slabs could connect across more of the terrain.  This is also the same area where we have lingering concerns for older, denser slabs now well-hidden below the new snow on northerlies, making for more complicated travel management.  So far, winds have been unusually tame in the Ruby Range/Paradise Divide areas, but if winds increase, we could see some natural releases today.    

We have high confidence that slabs of new or drifted snow will be unstable where they formed over weak facets on the north half of the compass.  An area of uncertainty is how well the snow bonded to crustier surfaces that survived on high southerlies.  If you are avoiding the most reactive slopes and traveling on southerlies, assess how well the snow is bonding to old crusts.  We are most concerned about terrain where the crust is thin and collapsible (most often on southeast aspects).  

Upcoming Events: 

  • Holiday Tree Sale: December 3rd-5th from 3 pm-7 pm at Ace Hardware
  • Avalanche Awareness Night: Saturday, December 6th, at the Center for the Arts
  • Beacon Brush-Up: Sunday, December 7th at the Community School

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