Observation: Gunsight

Our shallow snowpack continues to weaken with high pressure and cold temperatures. Not to worrisome now but it’s not a good set up for future snow loads. I was a bit surprised today when I skinned up to Gunsight via High Greeley got within about 70ft of the top and decided to boot up the choke to the top. As soon as I stepped out of my skis I heard a loud womp and realized I had collapsed the whole upper slope, and left a 25ft shooting crack above me. The slope did not move due to a lack of a sufficient slab but it got my attention. The slope failed under the crust on the underlying loose facets, I’m sure being in a loose rocky area helped with the collapse. The upper portion of gunsight was a bit wind loaded and the snow was 20 inches or so deep when I stepped out of my skis. Not a real concern for now but a hint of what’s to come on these high shady north’s when we get more of a load.

photos: the crack and location

The surface of the snow has become faceted with the last few cold clear nights, and the crust below the surface is starting to disentagrate in high shady N facing terrain but still fairly stout on E and sunny NE, meltfreeze crust or dirt on S and W