Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A storm at the beginning of the week formed small wind slabs at upper elevations and provided some fresh fuel for loose wet avalanches. Both of these avalanche problems have become more isolated in their distribution compared to earlier this week. Any lingering wind slabs primarily exist above 11,500ft, while small wet loose avalanche conditions may re-develop later this afternoon if we see some extended periods of sunshine. If you are riding steep terrain today, take some time to evaluate previously wind-loaded terrain and keep an eye out for areas with a few inches of wet snow that could produce loose wet avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind slabs that formed earlier this week have become more difficult to trigger as they have begun bonding to old snow surfaces and mid-storm instability are also settling out. In a few areas, these slabs may have formed over small facets on northerly-facing slopes. Those will be the areas that will be the most likely to trigger a wind slab today, and would primarily be found above 11,500ft. Wind slabs form on the lee sides of ridgelines, underneath cornices and on cross-loaded terrain featuers. 

    On Wednesday, this pair of wind slabs were human-triggered on northerly facing terrain on Mt Axtel. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    The snow that accumulated earlier this week has undergone melt-freeze cycles in most areas, limiting current wet loose avalanche concerns. The final holdouts will be some northerly-facing slopes. With some periods of sun forecasted for this afternoon and 11,000ft temperatures climbing back into the 40's, this avalanche problem may redevelop where you find a few inches or more of moist snow. You can use sluff management techniques to handle loose avalanches or move to lower-angled terrain. 

    Example of a recent loose wet avalanche below Schuylkill Ridge. 

Avalanche Discussion

The most notable wind slab avalanche activity this week came from a party riding on Mt Axtel yesterday. They triggered a couple of small slabs on a steep cross-loaded slope. As avalanches run in this type of terrain they can pick up additional volume and begin to grow in size. Over the last several weeks, we have seen multiple spring storms create a similar avalanche problem. Each time any slab avalanche concerns have lingered the longest where they formed over small facets on northerly facing slopes. Another round of small facets may have formed during our last period of high pressure preceding the storm earlier this week. This is the time of the year to ski steep avalanche terrain. If you are doing so today, it will be prudent to continue keeping an eye out for the potential of triggering a lingering slab avalanche on northerly-facing slopes. 

Wet loose avalanches have largely done their thing for the week, as the cold powder from earlier this week went through its first couple of freeze/thaw cycles. Some northerly facing slopes have not fully transitioned, and today's warm temperatures combined with periods of afternoon sun will keep some consideration for this avalanche problem if you are traveling in those areas this afternoon. On the other half of the compass, lower elevation southerly facing slopes have been through many melt-freeze cycles with water also moving through the snowpack to the ground. Wet avalanche activity is unlikely in those areas. Today's wind and clouds will keep snow surfaces cooler at upper elevations. 

The last persistent slab avalanche ran during warm weather on 4/14 near Avery Peak. Before that, on 4/3 there was a human-triggered persistent slab avalanche on Mount Whetstone. Last weekend's warmup further reduced concerns for this already isolated avalanche problem, and it has now been removed from the daily problem list. As is typical, if you are riding in extreme terrain, stay observant for any old slabs hanging out above unsupported slopes or where the snowpack is variable in depth through rocky terrain that could hold the potential for isolated slabs over weak faceted snow. 

Regions covered