Gunnison

Spring conditions are well established now that we are in late April, and the snowpack has been through multiple heat waves by this point. You can expect normal caution if you are getting out in the mountains. The best riding conditions are typically during the morning hours when the snow surface is just getting soft. If you find yourself sinking deeply into wet snow, you will have found an area where you could possibly trigger a small wet avalanche. There is still cold snow high in the alpine, and if you are getting into extreme terrain at these elevations, it would be prudent to keep your eye out for an old hard slab on the lee sides of terrain features. 

The last notable avalanche observations came from the start of the week, with some wet loose avalanches, a few small natural and skier-triggered wind slabs, and a large cornice fall/slab on MT Baldy.

We have been in a rising temperature trend for the last couple of days, with high temperatures climbing a couple of degrees each day. Decent overnight freezes are still occurring, and this is helping to create a window of good riding each day before the snowpack gets mushy later in the day. Accessing the areas that are still holding good snow coverage has gotten more difficult as the valleys continue to melt out, but if you can make it, this is a great time to get into the alpine and ride a peak. The Slate River Rd has long, dry sections until you get past OBJ. Kebler Pass is plowed to Elk Creek, with limited room to park or turn around if you drive all the way to the end. I'm unsure how the snow coverage is at the start of Washington Gulch. The valleys east of town are, of course, far drier.  

This will be the last weekend of daily avalanche forecasts. On Monday,  we will post our general spring travel advice. Please continue to send in observations and check the observations page for more information.