Gunnison

The avalanche danger is LOW this morning but the hazard will slowly creep upward throughout the day as sunshine and warm temperatures weaken snow surfaces.  Anticipate small loose avalanche hazards to develop.  If you find more than a few inches of wet snow or find an unsupportive snowpack then head for a cooler aspect or lower angled terrain.  Later in the day northerly aspects could produce bigger loose avalanches as cold snow from early in the week becomes wet.  Start and finish your day early to reduce the risk of triggering a wet avalanche.  

Last night temperatures dropped into the mid and upper 20s at most mountain locations.  The freeze overnight should provide a reasonable window on Sunday for enjoyable and safe riding conditions.  High temperatures will climb into the 50s at valley bottoms and high 30s near summits.  The sunshine and warmth will slowly destabilize surface crusts throughout the day.  Carefully time you travel for optimal and safe conditions.  Ideally, surface crusts remain intact and supportive with just enough softening for smooth turns.  If the snowpack becomes sloppy or unsupportive, it's time to head to lower-angled terrain or an aspect with less warming.

Wet Loose avalanches are the most likely problem today.  On most aspects, loose avalanches remain small and easy to manage.  Mid and upper-elevation northerly slopes have thin crusts capping cold snow from early in the week, and once the surface crusts break down from warming, loose avalanches could grow larger as they entrain the colder snow from early in the week.  Wet Slab avalanches are not expected today but they can't be ruled out completely for slopes facing the north half of the compass late in the day once meltwater begins pumping into the snowpack.  You can manage wet avalanche problems by starting and finishing your day early and avoiding slopes with punchy or unsupportive snow.

This is the last daily avalanche forecast for the season.  We will post general spring travel advice tomorrow.  Please continue to send in observations and check the observations page for more information.  Thank you all for supporting the Crested Butte Avalanche Center!