Gunnison

A relatively deep and strong snowpack has fostered generally safe avalanche conditions.  Anticipate encountering small slabs of wind-drifted snow on leeward terrain features and small loose avalanches on steep, sheltered slopes.  Human-triggered avalanches remain small enough to fit into LOW danger but could pose a hazard if you were knocked down into a terrain trap like cliffs, rocks, or gullies.  

Another small storm will deliver a couple of fresh inches to the mountains today.  The small storm totals will not be enough to raise the avalanche danger rating which remains at LOW (Level 1 of 5).  However, the meager snow totals will increase the volume of snow available for entrainment if you do trigger a thin slab at upper elvations or sluff (Loose Dry avalanche) on steep sheltered slopes.  

Observations from yesterday confirm the continued presence of sensitive, yet thin Wind Slabs at upper elevations.  Take a look at these two observations, one from the west side of the Ruby Range and another from the east on Italian Mountain.  Recent triggered Wind Slabs have remained small in size, but in long-running or confined terrain they could gather enough volume to knock you down.  If you are recreating in extreme terrain or above terrain traps, small avalanches can have serious consequences.  Continue to practice defensive travel habits to ensure this small problem does not catch you off guard in an undesirable spot.

Sluffs (Dry Loose avalanche) require a bit of management and planning on steep, sheltered slopes that face the north half of the compass.  Observers yesterday noted that these are fairly easy to trigger and predictable in nature on slopes steeper than about 38 degrees.  In one observation from Schuylkill Ridge, the sluff problem was described as "We were anticipating maybe a little movement with the new snow, but we’re surprised by how far it ran".  A voice message from our Observation hotline (970-444-2170) commented on "Sluffs today on untracked Schuylkill ridge line skiing in previous avalanched terrain. Feeling shallow and hallow in spots up there".  As the snowpack picks up a few more inches of new snow today coupled with weak, faceted snow just below the surface, expect the size and momentum to incrementally increase.  You can use defensive riding techniques like ski cuts and moving across the fall line to prevent being caught up in a sluff (Dry Loose avalanche).

The near-term weather forecast suggests the faceting process will continue in the coming days particularly at lower elevations due to inverted temperatures leaving cold air near valley bottoms.  This may lead to a slow increase in the size and distribution of sluffs on steep, sheltered northerly-facing terrain.  Enjoy the generally safe avalanche conditions, but continue to think about the current small problems and make a plan to manage them.