Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Most terrain is generally safe from avalanche hazards.  There are pockets of hard slab lingering on a few high elevation leeward terrain features that remain a low-likelihood concern.   Seek out soft, wind protected snow for the safest and highest quality riding conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    Wind transport late last week formed hard drifts scattered across some leeward terrain features.   Although these wind slabs are relatively thin and becoming more difficult to trigger now, they are easily stiff enough to break above you or catch you by surprise.  You are most likely to encounter a lingering wind slab above treeline on northeast, east, and southeast aspects.   Look for stiff and smooth drifts below ridgelines and cornices or in cross loaded gullies to identify potential features of concern. 

Avalanche Discussion

Our last measurable snowfall in town was a couple of inches on November 10th.  With each passing day of clear, cold weather, the snowpack grows weaker and weaker.  Apart from some minor sluffs, our weak snowpack by itself is not hazardous.  We need a cohesive slab above the rotting snow to cause problems.   Late last week, we saw just enough wind transport to drift snow into thin hard slabs in a few alpine terrain features.   Triggered avalanches last week (Example A, Example B, Example C) highlight the issue.  Because these slabs are dense and formed over a faceted snow surface, they are slow to heal.  Instabilities may be lingering today on a few of the most heavily drifted terrain features.  In most terrain, any triggered avalanche will be small (lenses that are 6" to 18" thick) and relatively harmless.  The biggest concern is if you get knocked over in high-consequence terrain or pushed into rocks.   In leeward terrain loaded by broad, productive fetches or with long, steep relief below, a triggered avalanche might be large enough to bury you, exemplified in this video.  

Regions covered