Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

In recent days, moderate to extreme winds from the west hammered and eroded the snowpack, and on some terrain features, developed thin, stiff slabs.  If you are recreating at upper elevations look for areas of smooth, dense, and chalky snow and steer around these suspected drifts.  Some drifts may be further downslope or in less common locations due to unusually high wind speeds.  There is a lingering threat of avalanches breaking deeper on northerly-facing terrain where the snowpack appears shallow, rocky, and/or unsupported.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong to extreme winds since Monday night have been actively blowing snow at all elevations, especially above treeline.  In many cases, it appears that winds were too strong to effectively load typical leeward slopes.  However, in some catchments such as gullies or concave features, you may find drifts that are stiff enough to knock you off your feet and take you for a ride.   Wind slabs will look and feel different than eroded or protected snow surfaces.  They'll have a chalky, pillowy appearance that might differ in color tone.  Drifted snow will feel thicker and denser than adjacent crusts or eroded snow surfaces.   Because winds were unusually strong, you may find slabs lurking further down slope than normal or in unusual locations.  Use extra caution above cliffs, gullies, or trees, where the consequences of a small slab will be magnified.  

    4/5: Blowing snow off of the summit of Mt. Whetstone, caused by strong westerly winds.  

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2

     Slab avalanches breaking into old weak layers several feet deep have become unlikely, but not impossible.  Higher elevation, northerly facing terrain still holds a dry, winterlike snowpack; thus we can't completely eliminate the potential for a rare but large slab avalanche on these aspects.  The most suspect terrain is convex or unsupported slopes, especially near rock bands. You are most likely to trigger a slide from a shallower spot on the slope.  If you are skiing or riding in that type of terrain, reduce your group's exposure during uphill travel and choose appropriate safe zones from a large avalanche while descending.  Let your friend wrestle their stuck snowmobile off of suspect slopes by themselves.  

    Example of a persistent slab avalanche that likely failed last week.  The avalanche highlights the type of terrain that is most worrisome:  northerly, rocky, and unsupported.  

Avalanche Discussion

The extreme winds from Tuesday relaxed on Wednesday yet continue to blow around 20 miles per hour with gusts exceeding 40.  The good news is that dry, soft snow available for transport continues to decrease so the gusty winds have relatively little snow available for transport.  At upper elevations, Wind Slab formation appears to be isolated across the landscape due to the exceptionally strong winds from Tuesday.  On sunnier terrain features, you can identify recent slab formation by the change in texture from melt/freeze crust to stiff, chalky wind-drifted snow.  On northerly features, Wind Slabs will appear smoother than the eroded, highly texted surfaces that indicate scouring.  If you identify a wind-drifted slab simply steer around it to manage the hazard.

The seasonal snowpack transition from a dry, winter-like structure to a spring-like snowpack has occurred on most slopes facing east to south to west.  However, upper elevation northerly slopes have not yet made this transition and present a lingering chance for you to trigger a Persistent Slab avalanche several feet deep.  The most likely place for you to trigger this type of avalanche is on shallow, rocky, or unsupported slopes.  Do not completely let your guard down on this problem by selecting up-track routes that leave room for a surprise and regroup in areas that account for a large size avalanche.

A warming trend begins today and lasts through Saturday.  Decreasing wind speeds, increasing temperatures, and ample sunshine will soften and wet snow surfaces on most aspects at low elevations and sunnier terrain at upper elevations.  Ideal 'corn' conditions are sun/temperature-softened surfaces that remain supportive underfoot.  If you find that you are punching into a wet, unsupportive snowpack then human-trigged Wet Loose avalanches are possible.  In the coming days, anticipate the need for an earlier start to catch ideal 'corn' conditions.   

End of season party! Join us at the Talk of the Town Friday, April 8 from 6-10 p.m. as we wish to say thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, and the community at large. We will have complimentary Modelo beer for everyone, live music from Congo Turner & Company, and a free raffle.

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