Gunnison

The primary avalanche problem is loose snow avalanches on steep or extreme terrain. Backcountry riders are taking advantage of the low avalanche danger and riding aggressively, where they are frequently encountering this problem on the northern half of the compass. A loose snow avalanche problem may also develop on some steep southerly facing slopes where you find a few inches of wet or moist snow on the surface. Small slab avalanches are isolated to a few previously wind-loaded terrain features at upper elevations. We have another beautiful day coming up and the big picture avalanche conditions continue to offer a great time to get out in the mountains.

On the northern half of the compass, the upper snowpack continues to weaken on a daily basis. The more cohesionless the upper snowpack becomes, the more snow is available for loose snow avalanches. If you are skiing in steep terrain, it is important to remain aware of this small avalanche problem. We have yet to see a sluff large enough to easily burry someone, but we have observed plenty of sluffs capable of bending people in ways that the human body doesn't want to get bent, as those sluffs slam into trees or pour off of cliffs. The avalanche conditions are generally safe right now, and the norm has become to ride aggressively in steep terrain where you can trigger small avalanches. 

Above the valley inversions, mountain temperatures will be climbing into the 40's. We would expect widespread loose wet avalanches if we had more dry snow that was becoming wet for its first time. Instead snow surfaces on the southern half of the compass have mostly transitioned and gone through previous freeze-thaw cycles. However, with the high-temperature forecast and calm winds, it's recommended to keep track of how much moist or wet snow you find. In some areas, it will be possible to find the right conditions for a loose wet avalanche problem. 

A period of wind drifting late Thursday formed a round of thin wind slabs over the weak facet layers that have been forming all month. On Friday there was an uptick in unintentionally triggered wind slabs. Check out these observations from Mt. Owen, White Rock Mountain, and Red Lady Bowl. On the same day, other groups found excellent riding and soft snow conditions at upper elevations. Any lingering wind slabs are expected to be isolated in their distribution. However again, if you are riding steep and or extreme terrain where a small avalanche could lead to high consequences, it's good to be aware of this potential.