Lawinenlagebericht

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Kernpunkte

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect.  Dangerous avalanche conditions exist due to recent heavy snowfall and wind loading.  Natural avalanches could fail from continued drifting on some wind-loaded slopes and might run further than you expect.  Cracking and collapsing have been sporadic even though conditions remain sensitive and ripe for human-triggered avalanches.  Several groups triggered avalanches on Sunday.  Carefully manage terrain to avoid traveling on or below steep slopes.

Many roof avalanches have also occurred recently and will continue to occur today as temperatures warm. Keep an eye out for these overhead hazards, and don't let children play below rooflines that are full of snow. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Numerous storm slab avalanches have released in the last couple of days. Avalanches breaking within the new snow remain a concern today, primarily above 11,000ft and in areas with additional wind loading.  These avalanches will be less likely but not impossible to trigger at lower elevations. Avalanche release will also be less likely on slope angles under 35 degrees, and the avalanche problem can further be avoided on slope angles under 30 degrees. 

    This storm slab was remotely triggered in Red Lady Glades on Friday. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    2–3

    Exceptionally weak facets and collapsible crusts are widespread on the northern half of the compass and on some sunnier aspects at higher elevations.  Slabs on top of these weak layers are 2 to 3 feet thick and thicker on wind-loaded slopes. A triggered avalanche could propagate across multiple terrain features and step down into old layers near the ground. Given the thick slabs, don't expect obvious warning signs before an avalanche releases. These issues are less common on wind-sheltered, southerly aspects and can be avoided on slope angles consistently less than about 30 degrees that are not connected to steeper terrain above.   

    This is a waist-high crown of a large avalanche that was remotely triggered yesterday by a snowmobile in the Kebler Pass Area. 

Avalanche Discussion

Since last Thursday, 2 to 3-foot slabs have formed across the landscape, with deeper accumulations on wind-loaded terrain features (50 inches was recorded at Irwin during this time frame).  The snowpack doubled in depth in some locations.  Improved visibility on Sunday morning allowed observers to document recent avalanche activity and identify several very large avalanches on drifted terrain.  There was no shortage of dangerous natural avalanches.  Take a look at these very large slides on Whetstone, Axtell, Climax, and Schuylkill Ridge to gain a humbling perspective on the size of avalanches you could encounter.  Avalanches of this scale would be hard to survive and could potentially fail naturally as light snowfall and winds keep the pressure on buried weak layers.

Skiers and snowmobilers triggered avalanches on Mount Emmons and near Irwin on Sunday.  This is clear evidence that avalanche conditions remain sensitive to the weight of a person or machine.  You can watch this forecaster video from Mount Emmons with footage of a remotely triggered Persistent Slab.  The most dangerous slopes face west through north through east in sheltered areas and wind-drifted slopes on all aspects.  This leaves very little opportunity to play in steep terrain safely.  The least problematic snowpack can be found on low elevation, wind-sheltered southerly aspects; however, density changes within the storm snow and marginal bonding to the old crust below make triggered avalanches a possibility, just less likely than other aspects.

Enjoy the fresh snow, but remember the deadly consequences of stepping past the bounds of current conditions. Don't let powder fever or the allure of a steep line in deep snow cloud your judgment.  Safer conditions always return; patiently wait for that time to come back around.    

 

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