Avalanche

Gunnison

Ben PritchettGunnison
Voir sur la carte
Photo d’observation 1Photo d’observation 2Photo d’observation 3Photo d’observation 4Photo d’observation 5Photo d’observation 6Photo d’observation 7Photo d’observation 8Photo d’observation 9Photo d’observation 10

Weather

Warm with high thin clouds.

Snowpack

I measured less than a foot of recent storm snow below treeline. The upper snowpack above the December drought layer was too soft to support my weight - my ski penetration went nearly to the ground. Snowpack tests were ineffective without a slab. Wind-drifted slopes at higher elevations looked plump, and I expect you could easily trigger an avalanche where a cohesive slab formed from wind drifting.

Avalanche

No signs of a recent avalanche cycle on the western side of the Sawatch Range, nor in the Taylor Park area. I saw remnant cracks and two tiny bank slips where valley-floor drifting formed a localized slab.