Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Stay alert for small instabilities if you are riding in extreme terrain.  They're most likely to be shallow wet loose avalanches at higher elevations as the day warms up - these are ankle-biter chihuahuas and not the bigger pit bulls we saw earlier this spring.   Move to lower consequence terrain or colder aspects if the snow surface starts to rollerball or pinwheel.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Shallow wet loose avalanches can be triggered or run naturally at higher elevations under warming temperatures and sunshine.  Today's wet loose avalanches should be confined to the recent snow, and will be relatively harmless unless they push you over in no-fall zones or carry you into terrain traps.  Use caution in consequential terrain if you see rollerballs or pinwheels.  Use defensive riding techniques or move to mellower terrain to manage the problem.  You can avoid wet loose avalanches by traveling early or moving to colder aspects before snow surfaces get wet.

    This example of a recent wet loose avalanche demonstrates the expected size.

Avalanche Discussion

It's a great time to tackle those bigger objectives that are typically off-limits during midwinter conditions, but don't turn off your avalanche spidey senses.

With the warming trend continuing, wet loose instabilities will continue to expand to higher elevations and colder aspects.  Wet loose activity this week has been small and confined to the recent snow above firm, brown crusts.  There is more recent snow at higher elevations, where you are more likely to encounter the problem.  If you're in high-consequence terrain, time your travels before the snow surface gets too wet, gloppy, or starts rollerballing.  

 Wind drifting on Monday formed thin, dense wind slabs on isolated features at upper elevations, and a few small natural and skier-triggered wind slabs occurred over the past two days.  These instabilities are expected to be healed up now. Any lingering exceptions are most likely found on very steep or unsupported leeward slopes in extreme terrain.  Seek out the soft, wind-ripled snow rather than smooth, firm snow for extra insurance if you are riding on colder aspects.  

An outlier to the pattern of small avalanches this week is the large cornice fall/slab on Baldy.  Cornice falls are infrequent and difficult to predict; minimize your exposure below overhung cornices and give them a wide berth if you are traveling along corniced ridgelines.    

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