Lawinenlagebericht

Northwest Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 8 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

If a few inches of new snow accumulate today, watch for small wind slabs developing on the lee sides of terrain features at upper elevations. The older persistent slab avalanche problem has become increasingly isolated in the terrain and difficult to human-trigger. It will be challenging to assess where you are more or less likely to trigger this old avalanche problem. So, outside of feeling for strong over weak layering in the snowpack, keep using good travel techniques such as exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain to reduce your potential exposure. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1–2

    Snowfall and wind drifting in early December formed slabs up to a few feet thick over facets near the ground.  These weak layers are most widespread on the northern half of the compass. Mild weather through the middle of December has helped the snowpack adjust to its current load, or in some cases, the shallow snowpack has seen slabs completely facet away. A recent extreme wind event has further wind-hardened or wind-eroded many exposed slopes. Identifying where the most likely areas to trigger this old avalanche problem are currently difficult. Obvious signs of instability and strong over-week layering in the snowpack are two potential red flags. Continuing to use good travel techniques in avalanche terrain will also help reduce your group's exposure to this avalanche problem. 

    An old persistent slab avalanche that was triggered on the east side of Cinnimon Mountain. 12/14. 

Avalanche Discussion

There is uncertainty about the snow forecast over the next 24 hours. It doesn't look like we will see much snow accumulation, but the chance is there. If a few inches of new snow accumulate, then wind slabs will start to work their way onto the problem list. Otherwise, there isn't any snow available to transport after the recent extreme wind event that occurred on Wednesday night. 

Following the extreme wind event, snow surfaces are highly variable. Those winds were to strong to effectively load terrain features, and there wasn't much snow available to transport. Somewhere in the mountain range scale, there could be a 4" windboard over sugary facets. This would produce a very small avalanche if triggered, but the hard windboard could easily pull you off your feet. 

The last significant loading event and associated natural avalanche cycle occurred around the weekend of December 6, followed by a few periods of additional wind loading. Over the past week and a half, the likelihood of human-triggered avalanches has steadily decreased to unlikely and is noted in the avalanche problem description. The most recent human-triggered avalanche occurred on Sunday, December 14, on an easterly-facing slope of Cinnamon Mountain. You can avoid this problem by choosing lower-elevation, sheltered terrain, where you are more likely to find a soft snow surface and better riding. 

Upcoming Events:

  • Trailhead Day: We will also be at the Washington Gulch trailhead for our first Trailhead Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Programs like the Fireside Chat Series and Trailhead Days are made possible through funding from MetRec, STOR, and the National Forest Foundation

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